6,000 km in 3 days in an electric car, who can beat Guillaume and Romain?
In September 2021, Guillaume Castevert and Romain Hédouin traveled exactly 5,887 kilometers in 70 hours and 49 minutes with a Tesla Model 3. They covered a route between southern Portugal and northern Norway based on superchargers from the American manufacturer . Their request now: beat their record, and why not use an electric car from another brand. They explain to us why this is possible in 2022.
Fast and far by electric car
” With our European Electric Cannonball, we want to prove that it is possible to travel fast and far with an electric vehicle. Fast, but respects the legal speed. We want to run repeated trips to show the evolution of EVs and charging over time “Explains Guillaume Castevert, whom we met on Saturday October 8, 2022 at the eco-driving rally organized by the Automobile Club du Sud-Ouest.
” 3 days / 6,000 km: I like this hyperlative, disproportionate part, these figures that can surprise when combined “Launching Romain Hédouin, reached by phone. In about 3 days, they reached the North Cape from Cape Saint-Vincent with Guillaume’s Tesla Model 3 Long Range.
Between Portugal and Norway, they passed through Spain, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. ” And a small strip of Finland between Sweden and Norway “, corrected the young co-pilot.
cannon ball?
” Cannonball, meaning ‘cannonball’, is a term widely used to describe coast-to-coast crossings in the United States. Unlike our trip, legal speeds are not always respected on these raids », translated Romain Hédouin. The two friends were motivated in their project by past performances.
So it did in 2014 with a Model S recharged only at Tesla’s superchargers: 5,514 km in 76 hours. The real trigger is the Transcanadian Lightning Run. In 73 hours, and in bitter winter, they reached Halifax after 6,131 km, starting from Vancouver with their Model 3.
” This is at the beginning of March 2020. Twenty new Tesla charging stations have just been implemented. I talked about it with Romain with whom I contacted via Twitter. We waited 18 months for the situation to improve, especially because of Covid-19. Also, to go to the North Cape, the good window is from June to September “said Guillaume Castevert.
United by the same passion for the Model 3
Guillaume Castevert and Romain Hédouin have different profiles. The first, in his fifties, has long been professionally involved in sharing a car in Bordeaux with the Citiz: ” For more than 10 years, between 2009 and 2019, I didn’t have a personal car. In 2008, I was interested in the Tesla roadster, then 3 years later, I tried a Renault Fluence ZE. I wanted an electric car for traveling. “.
” Following the presentation of the Model 3 on March 31, 2016, I immediately reserved my copy, like 150,000 people around the world. I chose my Long Range in red with the gorgeous 19-inch rims. I had to wait 3 years to finally receive it in 2019 “, he completed. He is currently adjusting his professional life to become a VTC: ” It comes with the Tesla Model S Plaid. I get paid to drive my favorite car “.
At age 24, Romain Hédouin is a cybersecurity software developer. He also owns a Tesla Model 3: ” This is a 2021 Standard version that I received before Cannonball. This is my third car. My first one was a Peugeot 406 coupé which I traded in for a second-hand Renault Zoé from 2013 when I started working “.
Fatigue as the main difficulty
” The Tesla Model 3 hardly limited us. During the trip, we ate very little. We spent the time of the charging breaks, on average every 2 hours, taking pictures to post on social networks and planning the next step. We want to make sure that the selected station is the best choice. “, emphasizes Romain Hédouin.
How long are these stops? ” About 18 minutes on average », replied Guillaume Castevert. ” In as little as 8 minutes. We also took advantage of these breaks to change drivers. On two occasions, however, we had to do the handover earlier, and especially in the middle of the Swedish desert. “, completed his co-pilot.
” If I had to relive this trip, it would be three. Besides, we can do it again to beat our record. For those who want to try it, I also advise to leave with three drivers. Both are extremely tiring and potentially dangerous “, he warned.
Superchargers only
” If we were able to make this journey between the magnificent Cape Saint-Vincent and the North Cape cliffs, it was thanks to the superchargers. We relied heavily on them, with a total of 31 refills. Only one caused a problem, in Angoulême, which we immediately solved by connecting the stele to the side », Details Guillaume Castevert.
” From Trondheim, Norway, that means for the last 1,000 kilometers, we have nothing but Tesla superchargers. This is why only electric cars of the brand could until recently complete this course in a very short time. “, he underlined.
” Today it will be different, for two main reasons. Because we can rely in part on the Ionity and Fastned stations that have since been put into service. And because the opening of Tesla’s superchargers makes our performance possible with electric cars from other brands “, he argued.
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Youtube Timelapse
” Eventually, we will also be able to do better thanks to the energy gained in terms of recharging, but also because of avoiding the opening of a new Tesla station in a 50 km detour that brought us to traffic jams in Stockholm. “, encouraged Guillaume Castevert.
” But be careful: we want the stopwatch advantage not to be taken as a violation of legal speeds. On our side, we published on Youtube a video of almost 5 hours in timelapse x15 where the instantaneous speed of the vehicle can be seen throughout the course. That didn’t stop us from spinning up to 234 km / h in Germany “, he reported.
” It was a truly extraordinary experience. It’s hard to beat him now in terms of nostalgia, adrenaline and friendship. A group of seven or eight Belgians met us on the way, with homemade cakes and drinks. Right in the middle of Sweden, Niko drove 30 minutes one way, and the same back, to meet us at a supercharger “recalls for his part Romain Hédouin.
Who will break the record?
” My greatest pleasure is to have, Guillaume and I, succeeded in proving what no one wants to believe. Since then, I have been looking for other challenges to achieve. For example a Paris-Beijing in an electric car or traveling far with only renewable energy. I’m also thinking of challenges other than the car declared the young co-pilot.
” Since the European Electric Cannonball, I have also taken my Model 3 to Croatia, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. In total, I’ve visited 10 countries with this car this year, compared to 9 on our foray. The mention of it always inspires surprise. The reception is always very positive “, he continued.
” Guillaume and I invite anyone willing to try to beat our record, using the electric vehicle of their choice, to take up the challenge. “, he concluded. The details of the trip, with as much information as possible, can be found by following the address cannonball.teslastars.fr.
Automobile Propre would like to thank Guillaume Castevert and Romain Hédouin for the time taken to answer our questions and their patience.
