Meet Rainer Zietlow, the man on a mission to prove that electric vehicles can reach the ends of the Earth. There is a lot of discussion about electric mobility and the expansion of charging infrastructure. Zietlow wants to challenge the misconceptions and prove that electric vehicles can travel the world. The eight-time Guinness World Record holder embarked on his mission today, travelling in an all-electric ID. Buzz.
A project like no other. The 55-year-old from Mannheim wants to drive through 75 countries. The tour will take Zietlow to New Zealand on the eastern part of the journey, and to Vancouver, Canada on the western part. Wherever there are roads, Zietlow and his team will make the record-breaking road trip on the vehicle’s four wheels, with only ship passages and interruptions for customs clearance as breaks. The ID. Buzz world tour will take more than eight months.
“With the 86 kWh battery in the ID. Buzz, we can achieve a range of more than 400 kilometres per charge,” Zietlow explains, “so I can also cover stages through sparsely populated sections of the route.” Zietlow’s ID. Buzz is a standard production version but has an additional on-board-charger so that it can take on high-voltage alternating current (AC, up to 125A) and convert it into direct current (DC) whenever there is no fast charger available.
Zietlow certainly doesn’t lack experience, having travelled to more than 110 countries, including a trip to Qatar in his old ID. Buzz. The latest tour has involved a year of planning and preparation: “I am not a company driver, I drive on my own account and at my own risk, with the support of my partners.”
These partners include Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, manufacturer of the Irish Car of the Year award-winning ID. Buzz. “We are very impressed that Rainer has the courage and expertise to take on a world tour like this in our electric vehicle,” said Lars Krause,
member of the Brand Board of Management, at the challenge’s starting point in Hanover. “I do a lot of long distance in my ID. Buzz and can report that charging is no longer a problem, at least in Europe. With his tour, Rainer’s team will certainly inspire many people to switch to an all-electric vehicle.”
With a supply of spare parts on standby in case of emergencies, Zietlow’s ID. Buzz will travel across Europe, from Hannover, Germany to Scandinavia, the Baltics, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands before arriving to Ireland on Tuesday, July 8. Zietlow will spend less than 24 hours in Ireland, visiting the Liffey Valley headquarters of Volkswagen Group Ireland and presenting to staff before heading to the UK by ferry.
Paul Hunt, Brand Director for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Ireland, said: “I very much look forward to welcoming Rainer and his ID. Buzz to Ireland. Travelling the world in any vehicle is a challenge but, embarking on this challenge lets everyone know just what is possible in an electric vehicle.”
To track Zietlow’s progress visit, www.idbuzz-worldtour.com
