Charge Around The Globe: Into India as Lexie and the Ford Explorer take on fourth continent

Thousands of kilometres through Europe, Africa and Australia have been covered, now Lexie Alford and the new Ford Explorer head into the fourth continent, Asia.  The journey starts in New Delhi, India and will end in Singapore via Bhutan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia should everything go to plan.

Through the chaotic roads of New Delhi, Lexie’s first stop was to Gurudwara Sri Bangla Sahib Modern Kitchen. Housed within the incredible golden-domed complex of the shrine is a huge langar hall where anyone is welcome to sit on the floor and receive a free meal. The meals are created in massive kitchens that are staffed mainly by volunteers, and also served by volunteers. It’s open all day, every day, and can feed more than 35,000 people in a single 24 hour period.

Lexie met with Jagjeet Kaur, who is a volunteer manager, and had the chance see the impressive kitchens for herself then work together with Jagjeet making chapatis before serving them to those gathered in the langar.

With the meal over, it was back in the Ford Explorer and a journey south to Agra, and India’s most recognisable landmark, the Taj Mahal. The majestic building, created 365 years ago as a tomb for the beloved wife of the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, allowed for some moments of quiet contemplation before the journey through India began in earnest.

Heading east, Lexie and the Explorer travelled through Lucknow and Varanasi, then up to Patna in the Bihar region of the country. From here they followed the flow of the Ganges river to Bhaglapur dealing with long charging stops on 2.2kw supplies along the way. India’s final destination was Shiliguri, from where they would leave the following day to head into Bhutan.

The India leg of Lexie’s attempt to be the first person to circumnavigate the globe in an electric vehicle (see progress on the RecordSetter page) was filled with wonderous sights, and the rest of Asia promises plenty of further challenges and spectacles. You can follow their Charge Around the Globe at Ford News Europe’s X, Instagram and YouTube as well as at Lexie’s Instagram and YouTube. Or simply follow the #ChargeAroundTheGlobe hashtag.  

Follow @FordNewsEurope