Exclusive: Record Setter Confirms Lexie Alford’s Around The World Ford Explorer EV Driving Record Is For ‘Multiple Vehicles’
Start your engines would-be world record setters. Or rather, turn on your motors.
Ford last week announced that adventure traveler Lexie Alford had become the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle, but it was more of a relay.
Alford used the Ford Explorer EV to complete the feat in collaboration with Ford, but not just one.
It wasn’t highlighted in the release, but a Ford spokesman confirmed to American Cars And Racing that five Explorer EVs were used during the six-month effort.
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“Due to logistical reasons we have worked with five vehicles on this journey, given the amount of time it requires to transport the car between continents including time for shipping and customs clearing,” the spokesman said.
The trip was completed in several disconnected legs that included a combined 18,000 miles of driving in one direction around the globe, as was listed in the criteria devised for the record by the Record Setter organization, which was posted on a website tracking the journey.
Record Setter didn’t immediately respond to a request for clarification, but today followed up by telling American Cars And Racing that the website will be updated with the full rules, including this language:
“Multiple Vehicles of the Same Make/Model: The record attempt may involve the use of multiple vehicles, provided they are of identical make, model, and specifications. Any variation in the vehicles used must be fully disclosed and must not confer an advantage in terms of performance, range, or other relevant factors.”
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This appears to leave the door open for an intrepid traveler or automaker to attempt to become the first to circumnavigate the globe in a single electric vehicle. Half of of it has already been traversed by one, but north to south instead of easterly.
Chris and Julie Ramsey spent 10 months driving an electric Nissan Aryia from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole, arriving at their destination this January. The only diversions from the driving route were a boat ride between Panama and Columbia to avoid the dangerous Darien Gap and an air shipment from the tip of Argentina to Antarctica.
The Explorer EV is built in Europe and not destined for U.S. sale. Ford said that Alford’s “achievement proved just what is possible in an electric vehicle,” as she was able to find solutions for charging it along the way.
Alford has not responded to a request from American Cars And Racing for comment on the record.
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