Rainer Zietlow, a name often whispered in circles of extreme adventurers, is at it again. This German explorer, known for his eight Guinness World Records, just kicked off his latest, most ambitious journey. On July 1, he left the Volkswagen factory in Hannover, Germany, aiming to drive an electric car around the entire world.
This isn’t just a casual road trip. Zietlow, 55, from Mannheim, plans to visit 75 countries over eight months. His chosen ride for this epic adventure is Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz electric van. It’s a bold statement about what electric vehicles can do.
The ID. Buzz carries an 86 kWh battery. Zietlow highlighted this feature, saying, “With the 86 kWh battery of the ID. Buzz, we can get more than 400 kilometers (over 250 miles) on a single charge. This means I can cover stretches with less traffic easily.” His plan is to drive the van wherever roads exist. The only breaks will be for boat crossings and customs stops.
Zietlow isn’t new to global driving feats. He’s already driven in more than 110 countries. He even reached Qatar in an earlier version of the ID. Buzz. He stressed that he’s not just a company driver. He takes on the challenge himself, with help from his partners. These partners include energy firm Elli, tire maker Giti, and Volkswagen itself.
A smart part of the plan involves the ID. Buzz’s global reach. Since the van is available in places like Indonesia, Australia, Japan, and the United States, getting spare parts along the way should be easier. The van itself is a standard production model. However, it has one key addition: an extra onboard charger. This allows it to convert high-voltage alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). This is super helpful when fast DC charging isn’t available or uses a different standard.
Zietlow’s main goal is clear: he wants to set a new world record for visiting the most countries in a single trip using an electric car. This journey isn’t just about personal achievement. It also highlights the growing possibilities for electric vehicles in long-distance travel.