Aloha Wanderwell was an iconic adventurer who, aside from being a filmmaker, a wife, and a mother, became the first woman to drive around the world one hundred years ago. After beginning her lifetime of exploration at the age of 16, she undertook a journey from 1922 to 1927 that took her through 43 different countries. This trip was taken in a Ford Model T, and earned Wanderwell a name and redefined the possibilities for both female adventurers and automobile exploration. The Model T was a revolutionary innovation at the time, and Ford is now turning to the latest innovation to take the industry by storm, the electric vehicle, to conduct another groundbreaking journey, this time with travel adventure influencer Lexie Alford.
Alford, known to her online community as Lexie Limitless, will be embarking on an ambitious journey later this year in the new all-electric Ford Explorer. She was the youngest person to visit every country in the world, doing so by 21 years old, and her adventurous spirit and rebelliousness perfectly capture the spirit of Wanderwell and her Model T journey of the last century.
“Aloha Wanderwell’s story is particularly inspiring for female travelers, but it truly encourages everyone to push their limits and explore new places,” said Lexie Alford. “I am excited to follow in the tire tracks of this legendary trailblazer, while showing what the electric future of overland travel can look like. There’s going to be many obstacles and challenges, but that’s part of the fun of travel and I’m going to be documenting it all online!”
The recently introduced all-electric Explorer is the latest in a legacy of cutting-edge for electric vehicles, combining German engineering with American style and packing in the tech, including a supersized movable touchscreen that can conceal a secret locker, wireless connectivity for smartphones, and electric powertrains that can charge from 10 to 80 per cent in just 25 minutes.
“We’re excited to see what our new all-electric Explorer and Lexie Alford can do together on this expedition – inspired by Aloha Wanderwell’s ground-breaking trip,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe. “We were a part of Aloha’s journey all those years ago and have been helping people take on ambitious adventures ever since – we can’t wait to see how our electric future will keep that rebellious spirit going.”
Circumnavigating the world is just one of the daring feats Ford is undertaking in the realm of electric vehicles right now. If you want to learn more about other Ford news, make sure to keep reading our blog to get all of the latest updates!