A couple of Danish travel writers have successfully travelled around the world in a converted Nissan Qashqai electric car.
Crossing three continents in 10 months, Nina and Hjalte from the Moto Mundo challenge have become the first people to cross the Gobi Desert in an electric vehicle. Crossing through Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Mongolia, China, USA, Spain, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland and Holland during their epic journey, the couple took no support vehicle with them take care of problems or carry spare parts. Instead workshops, hotels, camp-grounds and homes all over the world have helped the Moto Mundo Electric World Tour power up for the journey.
The expedition encountered extreme heat in Russia and the coldest winter in USA. En route the team completed the Monte Carlo Rally for electric cars and exhibited the car at the Shanghai 2010 EXPO world exhibition and took part in the Detroit Motor Show in the US.
After finishing their world tour Nina and Hjalte will continue using their green car in rallies, for electric mobility promotion and on lecturing tours. Already authors of more than 15 books about their travels, the pair are now writing a book and planning a TV-production about their first ever journey in an electric car.
The converted Qashqai produced by AfutureEV uses a 60 KW motor and lithium ion batteries. This give the car a 200 km range per charge and powers the car to a top speed of 130 km/h. Recharging up to 90 per cent of the battery’s capacity takes 6 hours at 6KW.
Sponsors of the Moto Mundo challenge included the Danish Ministry of Climate and Energy (which GPS-tracked and documented the whole world tour), Afuture electric vehicles, Continental Tyres, Thrane&Thrane, Hummel clothes and GreenPark of Rotterdam.
