The American adventurer Lexie Alford, known to millions of followers as Lexie Limitless, is breaking records once more. While she already held the world record as the youngest person to visit every sovereign country at the age of 21, she is now also the first person to travel around the globe in an electric vehicle (EV). Driving a pre-production model of the new Electric Ford Explorer, Lexie covered over 30,000 kilometers, spanning six continents and 27 countries. Nearly a century later, her adventure follows in the footsteps of another female American explorer: Aloha Wanderwell.
Text: Anja Van Der Borght
At the finish line in the French seaside town of Nice, Lexie and her new Ford Explorer led a convoy of iconic Ford vehicles, flanked by current models that symbolize the visionary direction the American manufacturer aims to take in the future. “Ford wants to bring passion and emotion to electric vehicles in Europe,” says Jim Farley, CEO of Ford. “There are enough boring cars and SUVs. The new Explorer represents Ford’s unique character, which is reflected in every car in this fantastic convoy. The new all-electric passenger car is specifically designed for European roads and customers and, of course, is capable of taking you anywhere in the world.” A fully charged battery gives the Cologne-built SUV a range of over 600 kilometers. At a DC fast charger, it charges from 10 to 80 percent in about 26 minutes. Unfortunately, during her Charge Around The Globe world trip, Lexie often had to do without charging infrastructure.
How did the adventure begin?
“The incredible idea came from Ford,” Lexie Limitless explains. “A hundred years ago, they were hugely inspired by the expedition of Aloha Wanderwell, a Canadian explorer, filmmaker, wife, mother, and the female version of Indiana Jones. At just 16 years old, she became the first woman to drive around the world, in one of the first Ford models—the Ford Model T.”
With the help of Ford Motor Company, Aloha began her courageous journey in Paris, which took years to complete. The Ford Model T ‘Flivver’ was chosen for its reliability and ease of repair. Ford also provided technical support through its extensive dealer network, which Aloha called “the only global spare parts service.” Her journey spanned seven years, covering 43 countries. She reached places where no Western man or woman had ever set foot. Every step of her adventure, in each country, was documented in her travel journals. Sometimes she had to use kerosene instead of gasoline and even mashed bananas as lubricant. In India, local oxen were needed to pull the Model T through mud and rivers.
I’m incredibly motivated to help people learn to travel on their own because I believe it’s such a wonderful way to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people.
– Lexie Limitless
Though Lexie didn’t start her journey in Paris but in Nice, she also faced her biggest challenges in India. “We wanted to shine a light on her incredible story while recreating her journey in a fully electric car, the new Electric Ford Explorer,” Lexie says. “It was truly an incredible team effort, with Ford’s support, to accomplish something on such a large scale. In the end, we covered over 30,000 kilometers through 27 countries on six continents in 200 days.”
What were you doing before this project? Were you studying or working?
LL: “A few years ago, in 2019, I broke the world record as the youngest person to travel to every sovereign country in the world. By the age of 21, I had visited 197 countries. To put that into context: today, more people have been to space than people who have traveled to every country. I dedicated the last four years of my life to achieving that goal. Since then, I’ve been creating travel films and hosting various videos on YouTube. I’m so excited about our upcoming documentary because we captured every step of this journey on film, from start to finish. It really feels like a full-circle moment—literally—to be back in Nice after leaving 200 days ago.
There’s also the magic of social media, which allows me to share the journey so that everyone feels like they’re experiencing it alongside me. That’s so special and meaningful because I’m incredibly motivated to help people learn to travel themselves. I believe it’s such an amazing way to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people.”
You weren’t traveling alone but had a whole team with you?
LL: “In each country, I had a different number of people with me, but at least four were there to film the documentary. My producer and cameraman were in the car with me every day. Then I had my personal photographer, videographer, and editor, who helps me make all the videos you see on Instagram and social media. And of course, there was also a mechanic with us—just in case. We carried spare tires and such because you never know.”
Traveling the world in an electric car is quite different from driving an EV through Belgium, France, or Europe. Did you have a backup plan, like a generator?
LL: “No, we didn’t carry diesel generators or anything like that. We wanted this to be a 100% authentic EV experience. We did have a portable battery pack, similar to the kind you’d use to charge a phone. Unfortunately, it charged very, very slowly, so we only used it a few times. In countries without a strong EV network, we relied on local charging points, so we used regular household outlets—if we could find them. In places like South Africa and Zimbabwe, we had to search for outlets in sheds, garages, and basements, with charging times easily taking 20 to 30 hours or more. Our patience was really tested.”
After covering so many kilometers, if you could change anything about the car, what would it be?
LL: “Honestly, I’ve gotten so used to life in this car that I can’t imagine it any other way. Especially since it’s truly built with adventure in mind. It’s very practical, and the glass roof and large navigation map were incredibly useful.”
You’ve probably gathered many wonderful moments or souvenirs, but what was the worst part?
LL: “We faced rough terrain and harsh weather, but for me personally, the biggest challenge was getting sick a few times. In India, for example, I got food poisoning, which really took me out. I had to go to the hospital several times. It was an added challenge because we had such a big goal to achieve, and we needed to drive as far as possible every day. So being forced to rest for a few days was really tough.”
Did you map out the route yourself?
LL: “Our route was a team effort, especially because so much research was required. Even when planning a short EV trip, you have to check where you can charge. On our scale, we had a team helping to ensure the best chances of success.”
Did the driving techniques you learned at the Lommel Proving Ground come in handy?
LL: “Oh yes, the training was very useful, especially during off-road driving in places like Bhutan, Chile, and the Atacama Desert. Being familiar with the car’s driving capabilities in those conditions was incredibly helpful. I also learned a lot about obstacle avoidance during the skid course, and let’s just say there were plenty of obstacles in India. India was the most challenging place to drive, with unpredictable road users, a lack of structure, infrastructure, road markings, animals, and holy cows on the road. I don’t think anywhere else in the world will stress me out as much as India did.”
Do you feel different after this experience?
LL: “I do feel like I’ve gained a few wrinkles. It was a stressful experience. I also have some back pain that I’ll need a chiropractor for.”
Did you use the car’s seat massage function?
LL: “Absolutely! It really helped, as did the seat heating. A heated seat feels amazing when your back hurts after so many hours on the road.”
What was your favorite song during the trip?
LL: “Do you know Chris Stapleton? He’s an American country artist. His music was so nice. His debut album, Traveller, is full of American spirit. I love his music!”
Do you have an idea for your next project?
LL: “Nothing crazy. We’ll see. For the past 18 months, we’ve been working on this project with Ford. We’ve put so much of our heart and soul into it—both in and out of the car—so I’m going to relax for now, reflect on everything, and give it some time.”
The new all-electric Ford Explorer is available from €44,950 with the standard battery and €48,950 with the extended-range battery.
www.ford.be
Adventurer Lexie Alford @LexieLimitless
