
Ford Motor Co. in Dearborn is selling the all-electric Ford Explorer model used by adventurer Lexie Alford, the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle.
Alford crossed the finish line in Nice, France, on March 26, leading a convoy of Ford vehicles. The Ford Explorer joins other electric models in the Ford lineup, including Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and the E-Transit.
The Explorer EV was designed for European customers and Ford has officially set its price and made the vehicle available for purchase.
“Ford wants to bring passion and emotion to electric vehicles in Europe,” says Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, who attended the celebration. “There are enough boring cars and SUVs out there. The new Explorer represents Ford’s unique character, which is stamped on every car in this fantastic convoy.”
The Explorer crossed six continents, drove through 27 countries, and covered more than 30,000 kilometers, all on electric power. The vehicle completed its journey despite battling power outages in Africa, a lack of charging infrastructure in the Atacama Desert of Chile, unmade roads, mountain passes, and freezing conditions.
The vehicle Alford used was a pre-production version of the Ford Explorer now available for sale. Over the course of the journey, it used a variety of charging systems from 2.2 kw AC wall outlets to DC fast chargers and a portable battery pack.
“On this epic adventure, I met incredible people from many corners of the world and experienced 27 beautiful countries while behind the wheel,” says Alford. “But this journey came with a unique set of challenges. It has been the honor of a lifetime to be trusted by Ford to circumnavigate the globe in the electric Explorer, which has been like home for the last six months.”
Alford also holds the world record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world.
The new all-electric Explorer is Ford’s first passenger EV to be developed and built in Europe. It has battery electric powertrains for zero-tailpipe emissions while driving – and up to 375 miles driving range on a single charge.
The new all-electric Explorer is the first vehicle to be assembled at the Ford Cologne EV Centre following a $2 billion dollar investment.
In other Ford news, the company named Brittley C. (full name withheld to protect privacy) of Spokane, Wash., as the winner of the Sydney Sweeney-Designed Dream Ford Mustang contest.
Brittley owns a 2005 Mustang, which she works on with her father. Her submission was one of about 5,000 and was chosen by both Sweeney and Ford, based on the contest criteria of sharing how “you’ve been able to challenge expectations in your own passion.” She will receive her 2024 Ford Mustang GT next month.
Brittley talked about how she’s been able to challenge expectations in her passions and was focused on her experience in male-dominated fields, including working as a sous-chef, in video game development, and the time she spends outside of work fixing up her own vehicle.
According to Ford, her experience underscores the empowering effects of automotive knowledge and fostering confidence in traditionally male-dominated spaces. This theme — knowledge is power — mirrors the message championed by both Ford and Sweeney, “resonating with their efforts to empower women in the automotive industry and beyond.”
“I have never entered a contest before,” says Brittley. “This is so exciting and really made me believe anything is possible if you have the courage to put yourself out there.”