Baldivis MLA and Parliamnetary Secretary for Energy Reece Whitby and Wiebe Wakker at Horizon Power.
Camera IconBaldivis MLA and Parliamnetary Secretary for Energy Reece Whitby and Wiebe Wakker at Horizon Power. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Longest ever journey undertaken in an electric car makes pit stop in Bentley

Ben SmithCanning Gazette

FOR the past two years, Wiebe Wakker has spent his life inside an electric car, travelling around the world.

The Plug Me In project founder set off from his home in The Netherlands in his electric Volkswagen Golf – dubbed the ‘Blue Bandit’ – to promote sustainability.

70,000km and 33 countries later, Mr Wakker has reached WA, with the world record for longest ever journey undertaken by an electric car under his belt.

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He has travelled without money and relied on the kindness of strangers to provide food and accommodation for nourishment throughout his journey.

While some may wonder about the difficulties of charging his car – which has a range of 200km – during his trip, Mr Wakker said he had found powers sources easy to come by.

“I’ve found it quite easy; electricity is everywhere,” he said.

“I can charge it on just the normal household socket, in a very small village you just knock on someone’s door and explain what you’re doing.

“It’s more difficult to drive a petrol car because if you run out you need to find petrol, but electricity, you will find that anywhere.”

While he admitted travelling through northern WA had provided issues due to the long distances between stops, Mr Wakker was able to make use of three new charging stations along the Great Northern Highway.

Today, he visited Bentley for a pit stop at Horizon Power, to officially launch two new electric vehicle charging stations that are free and open to all.

Mr Wakker said it was important more charging stations like these were made available for the public to encourage sustainable travel.

“If people see there’s infrastructure, they start thinking about electric cars and they think ‘maybe it’s something for me,’” he said.

With his car recharged, Mr Wekker is set to finish his journey in Sydney, but not before taking detours through Port Augusta, Alice Springs, Townsville, Newcastle, Adelaide and Melbourne.

Click here to find out more about the Plug Me In project.