Two Dudes and A Tesla: The 70 Hour Electric Cannonball Run

Generally speaking, electric vehicles are not a driver’s first choice when it comes to long range trips. Consumers complain of short battery life and inconvenient charging times as their reasons for overlooking this transportation option. While we might agree that electric driving has its flaws, there is some hope on the horizon. Recently, two passionate car enthusiasts proved all the naysayers wrong. Guillaume Castevert, known as @TeslaStars on Twitter, and Romain Hédouin (@TeslaOwls) made it their mission to negate the uncertainty surrounding electric mobility by hitting the open road on an Electric Cannonball Run.

Learn more about their incredible journey below. Find out the motivation behind their Electric Cannonball Run in a Tesla Model 3.

Inspiration behind the 5,887 kilometer trek  

Castevert and Hédouin were inspired by the infamous Cannonball Run in the United States. The route traditionally spans from the Red Ball Garage on East 31st Street, Manhattan, NY to the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach, California. A whopping 4,677 kilometers with one goal in mind: make it cross-country as fast as humanly possible. 

While many know of the Cannonball race from the comedic 1981 movie, ‘Cannonball Run’, the real life version is not all fun and games. Only the boldest and most adventurous desperados have dared to take on this high speed journey. In fact, the pandemic persuaded a number of racers to get back behind the wheel thanks to less congested highways. One lucky team of drivers and a 2019 Audi A8 was able to break the latest Cannonball record in the U.S.  

What makes Castevert and Hédouin’s trip unlike the rest is that speed was not the objection. Of course they had a goal of getting from start to finish in under 72 hours. But these die-hard electric enthusiasts had a greater pursuit in mind. They wanted to showcase the power of electric mobility, battery range, and Tesla engineering. As friends and car enthusiasts, completing an Electric Cannonball Run was a means to debunk the myths involving electric vehicles.  

If all went well, these car enthusiasts knew this achievement would shed a new light on the future of electric vehicles and how far they can actually go. In spite of the long hours and sleeping in the car, the trip had its rewards. Just check out those views!

The reward 🤩

🚗🔋⚡️🤖🇪🇺🚀#EuropeanElectricCannonballhttps://t.co/wpJEW3LtwE pic.twitter.com/bgm7cNkhBp

— TeslaStars of Cannonball 🇪🇺🚀✨ (@TeslaStars) September 11, 2021

Breakdown of the first-ever Electric Cannonball Run

The #EuropeanElectricCannonball began on September 6th, 2021 in Cape Saint-Vincent, Portugal. 9 countries and several charges later, Castevert and Hédouin arrived in Cape North, Norway. Thereby, marking the end to the first documented Electric Cannonball Run on the Transeuropean continent. How did these EV drivers minimize the charging times? The trip was powered by the Electric Cannonball method. This widely recognized charging tactic meant that every time they reached a TeslaSupercharger network they only charged enough to make it to the next charging station. 

Image source: Polarsteps

They completed the journey in 70 hours and 49 minutes, an achievement that both Guillaume and Romain take great pride in. Despite heavy rains in France and speed limitations, these car enthusiasts showed the capabilities of an electric motor.  

🚨 WE DID IT 🚨

We have officially completed the first ever #EuropeanElectricCannonball

Cape Saint-Vincent 🇵🇹 to Cape North 🇳🇴
2 days 22 hours 49 minutes and 27 seconds
5887km

In an electric car pic.twitter.com/oHAZTh8KWY

— Tesla Owls of Cannonball (@TeslaOwls) September 11, 2021

Electric Cannonball Run and autopilot

Previous Electric Cannonball racers have credited Autopilot as the secret weapon to long range success. In Castevert’s blog, he remarked, “Autopilot was a fantastic help during the run, handling most of the driving tasks and allowing us to concentrate on monitoring the road conditions and the behavior of other road users.” The Tesla of today is remarkably known for its Autopilot feature. It’s a trademark of the brand that has proven to safely assist car enthusiasts travel through dangerous highways without tensity.

Sit down with fellow Electric Cannonball racers

On Sept, 14th, Guillaume and Romain took part in a virtual interview with fellow Cannonball racers, Ian Pavelko and Trevor Page. The Canadian inspiration behind their own Electric Cannonball Run. On the Tesla Owners Online Podcast, Castevert gave insight on their 3-day journey throughout Europe and how it compared to the experiences of those in North America. 

Moreover, Castevert details the real reasons why electric vehicles are “better in every way.” They wanted to “prove to any skeptic that it’s possible to cross Europe in an electric car while driving the speed limit.” While their journey is striking, it hints at a bigger picture of how EVs are evolving. Castevert and Hédouin’s unmatched zeal for Tesla and electric motors proves there is no reason to hesitate on making the switch to an all-electric vehicle.

Whether traveling cross continents or across town, an EV can get you where you need to go. The range of electric batteries is only improving. With the recent talk of graphene batteries, electric driving is soon becoming more manageable for the everyday commuter. Also including those who dare to take on the Electric Cannonball Run this year or the years to come.

In final note 

Over the years, skeptics have undermined the legitimacy of EVs every chance they get. Many have even shied away from considering it a full-time vehicle, denoting it as a second or third car option. The 5,887 kilometer Transeuropean journey further emphasizes how sustainable EVs are to the future of transportation. If these car enthusiasts could make a treacherous trip possible in a Model 3, so can anyone else who plucks up the courage. 

Those interested in seeing the full extent of Castevert and Hédouin’s journey, visit their blog on Polarsteps today.