Fan Yuhu and Gloria are traveling around the world with an EV. They started their trip about a year ago in Southeast Asia and are currently in Central Asia at the border between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. I have been following them for a while on social media and have chatted with Gloria via WhatsApp about a couple of different topics. Luckily, Gloria agreed to an interview on EV Overlanding about their fascinating trip around the world.
Please also check out their social media channels: https://www.youtube.com/@fanyuhu888 and https://www.instagram.com/fanyuhu888/.
EV-Overlanding: Could you please briefly introduce yourselves to our readers. Where do you come from? How old are you? What‘s your profession?
Gloria: My name is Gloria, 35 years old from Malaysia, and my husband is Fan Yuhu, 54 years old from China. Our job is traveler blogger and we have our own social media channels.
EV-Overlanding: You plan to drive across the whole world with an electric vehicle. Fan Yuhu did it already in the past with a standard vehicle with a combustion engine. What‘s your main motivation to repeat this trip now with an electric vehicle?
Gloria: We like challenges, adventures, traveling around the world, new things, beautiful scenery, and delicious food. Fan Yuhu has only visited 83 countries the first time around the world, and there are 197 countries in the world.
It is our dream to drive around the world together with a pure electric car. We will be following the same route as on his first round.
Our motivation is to promote environmental awareness to reduce the air pollution caused by exhaust emissions from gasoline and diesel cars, which harms people’s health. Three generations of my husband’s family died of lung cancer at a young age in China.
Another motivation is to break the record for the longest non-stop drive with a pure electric car.
EV-Overlanding: Do you have any previous experience with electric vehicles?
Gloria: We have never driven an electric car before. We just started one year ago.
EV-Overlanding: I know that you are driving a BYD car. Why have chosen exactly this type of vehicle? Have you considered other EVs for your trip around the world?
Gloria: A Malaysian guy introduced us to this brand. We were also looking for a car brand with many service points globally. We also successfully obtained a bank loan to buy this car. But if any brand would be willing to sponsor us for 2 years for this trip we would be willing to change the car.
EV-Overlanding: How large is the battery in your car and how much range do you expect to get out of a full charge (let’s assume driving at 80 km/h on a paved road)?
Gloria: This car has a 60 kWh battery. When fully charged it can drive 350 km on the road at 60-70 km/h.
EV-Overlanding: Do you carry a spare wheel and do you use all-terrain tires? Have you ever had a flat tire?
Gloria: We do not carry a spare wheel and do not use all-terrain tires. We never had a flat tire.
EV-Overlanding: That’s surprising for me. Good luck that it will stay like this. Do you think that electric vehicles are altogether more or less reliable on this kind of trip than standard ICE vehicles?
Gloria: Electric vehicles are more reliable on these kind of trips than standard ICE vehicles.
EV-Overlanding: Have you done any modifications to your car like a body lift for higher ground clearance?
Gloria: We never do any modifications to our cars.
EV-Overlanding: Where do you sleep on this trip? In a tent, in the car, using local accommodations, or a combination of all of them? Do you have enough space in your car to sleep in it if necessary?
Gloria: On this trip, we do the same as before. Most of the time we sleep in the car, but sometimes there is also the opportunity to sleep in a hotel for free in exchange for advertising or free photos for the hotel.
Our car can become a bed for 2 persons to sleep in it. Although it’s small, it’s just the right size for two people to sleep inside. But we’re looking forward to moving to a bigger car in the future.
EV-Overlanding: Do you already carry all the necessary adapters for worldwide charging like GB/T to CCS2?
Gloria: Our car has a Malaysian connector with CCS2 for DC, like in Europe. But we charge mostly AC using a portable charger.
EV-Overlanding: Which countries do you expect to be the biggest challenge for an EV?
Gloria: I heard from friends who have been to Afghanistan that there is a shortage of electricity and power outages are frequent.
EV-Overlanding: How many years do think you will need for this trip?
Gloria: 4 years.
EV-Overlanding: Do you plan to use the same vehicle during the whole time?
Gloria: No, if some company sponsors us with any 100% electric car we will change.
EV-Overlanding: How do you plan to finance your expedition?
Gloria: Our finance is based on social media, wrap advertisements on our car, and selling our book.
EV-Overlanding: Currently, your social media channels like Instagram or YouTube are mostly in Chinese. Do you plan to also publish in English in the future to gain more followers?
Gloria: Yes, we will be trying to do it in Mandarin and English.
EV-Overlanding: Thanks Gloria and Fan Yuhu for the interview and good luck with your fascinating expedition. I hope we can meet in person when you arrive in Europe.
EV Overlanding 