Electric Semi to Cross 38 Countries in 9-Month World Tour

Tobias Wagner is about to prove that electric trucks belong everywhere, not just on Europe's smooth highways.

The German YouTuber, known as Elektrotrucker, will drive a Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 around the world starting this autumn. His nine-month journey will cover 40,000 kilometers across 38 countries, from the Western Sahara to the Andes Mountains.

Wagner started his YouTube channel in late 2022 after quitting his job to educate people about electric trucking. What began as an educational project turned into something more like evangelism after he discovered electric trucks face far fewer challenges than most people imagine.

He's already driven electric semis through Finland's freezing winters and Gibraltar's scorching heat. But this trip dwarfs all previous adventures.

Mercedes is supplying the eActros 600 with custom modifications including extra headlights, spare tires, and a mobile charging unit. That portable charger will be crucial in areas without developed charging infrastructure, letting Wagner plug into any electrical outlet he finds.

The truck's 621-kilowatt-hour battery provides about 310 miles of range per charge. Wagner expects to recharge roughly 80 times during the entire journey, inspiring the trip's tagline: "Around the World in 80 Charges."

A German company called Bliss Mobil is building a motorhome-style living space on the truck's back. Wagner won't be traveling alone either. His dog Krümelix will serve as his "charging station nose," and the truck includes a full passenger seat for guests who want to join portions of the adventure.

The Ripple Effect

Wagner's trip joins a growing list of adventurers proving EVs work in unexpected places. Rafael de Mestre first circumnavigated the globe in an electric Tesla Roadster back in 2012. Chris and Julie Ramsey drove a Nissan Ariya from the North Pole to the South Pole in 2023, becoming the first vehicle of any type to complete that journey.

These stunts make an important point. Electricity exists almost everywhere in the modern world, generated from motion, heat, or sunlight. Getting it into a vehicle just takes some wires, unlike oil that requires millions of years of decomposition underground.

Wagner's route will take him through Europe, West Africa, South and Central America, and Southeast and Central Asia before returning home. He'll document the entire journey on his YouTube channel, showing real-world charging solutions in countries where infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

"After countless tours through 22 countries, I know one thing for sure: electric trucks in long-distance transport work without any problems," Wagner said.

His adventure proves that the future of freight transport isn't limited by technology but by imagination.