Kiwi EV record confirmed

The Guinness World Record for crossing New Zealand – from Cape Reinga to Bluff – has been officially confirmed.

Tesla Owners Club of New Zealand founder John Fitness completed the trip in early February, covering the distance in his Model 3 using just six charging stops.

In announcing the confirmation, Fitness noted the logistics had been the hardest part.

“By far the most challenging aspect turned out to be the logistics of arranging witnesses at each stop,” Fitness says.

“So at the risk of being cliché, thanks all that helped – I couldn’t have done it without you!”

Fitness recorded six EV charging stops – at Whangarei, Hamilton, Mangaweka, Ward, Christchurch, and Palmerston – which took just over half an hour at each and gave him time for a break.

He says the trip cost him $117.69 for charging up, the drive taking him less than 48 hours.

Fitness left Cape Reinga at 5.27am on February 4 and arrived in Bluff on February 5 at 9.34pm.

He averaged 126Wh/km.

“Highlights were many but meeting (Invercargill mayor) Tim Shadbolt on arrival in Bluff, and (Whangarei mayor) Sheryl Mai in Whangarei were up there for sure,” Fitness says.