Wiebe Wakker is a Dutchman who embarked on an epic journey on March 15, 2016, driving his fully-electric “Blue Bandit” from Amsterdam to Sydney.
With no money in his pocket, it was a daunting challenge to traverse 33 countries and cover a total of 95,000 kilometers without stopping at a fuel station.
Wiebe’s journey is a testament to the power of determination, the kindness of strangers, and the potential of sustainable mobility. His goal was to prove the viability of sustainable mobility and inspire people around the world to adopt a more eco-friendly lifestyle. To achieve this, he reached out to his followers on plugmeinproject.com, a website where people could offer him a place to sleep, a meal, or a charge-up for his car. Thousands of strangers signed up and the responses determined his route, which took him from Amsterdam to Italy and back to the North Cape, through Eastern Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.
Wiebe Wakker Topics of his presentations:
- Dealing with change and uncertainty
- Coping with crises and setbacks
- Achieving goals
- Living more sustainably
- Challenging people to get out of their comfort zone
- Breaking through prejudices against electric vehicles / inspiring people to use electric vehicles
- Global cooperation of different cultures
More about his adventure:
The journey was not without its challenges. In India, the charger of his car exploded, and Wiebe was left stranded. However, he never gave up, and his followers and helpful locals came to his aid throughout his journey. Sheiks in Dubai took care of him, he met a famous prince in Malaysia, and he became a celebrity in Indonesia, even appearing in the tabloids.
After 1,119 days, Wiebe finally reached Sydney, making it the longest journey in an electric car. His experiences are still fresh in his memory, and he now shares his story with audiences as a speaker. Wiebe’s presentation highlights what motivated him to undertake this incredible adventure and how he persevered through the many challenges he faced.
As a speaker, Wiebe shares not only his travel stories but also his qualifications as an authority on sustainable mobility. He inspires, energizes, and challenges audiences to embrace change, deal with uncertainty, and achieve their goals. He shares insights on coping with crises and setbacks and encourages people to get out of their comfort zone. Wiebe also breaks through resistance to electric driving and inspires people to drive electric, promoting a more sustainable way of living.
In conclusion, Wiebe Wakker’s journey is an inspiration to anyone who wishes to make a difference in the world. His message of sustainability, perseverance, and determination will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come. Whether you’re looking for motivation to achieve your goals, embrace change, or drive electric, Wiebe’s talks are sure to inspire, energize, and challenge you to live a more positive and sustainable life.