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In 2012, Rafael de Mestre did something nobody else ever had – he drove around the world in an electric car, an original Tesla Roadster. And now, he’s driving around the world solo again in that same Roadster as a promotional and scouting tour and to recruit other teams to join him for yet another circumnavigation in 2024.

We got a chance to talk to him about his story when he stopped by for a charge during his second solo circumnavigation.

An IT consultant by trade, de Mestre was born in Catalunya and grew up in Germany. Early in his life, he remembers seeing the Citroen DS 21 and really liking it – except for the smell. He asked, why does it need to be so smelly? Isn’t it just going to make everything smelly? The adults told him no, there’s plenty of air; it won’t be a problem.

He wonders, now, what things might have been like if the adults had listened to him. And now, he’s driving around the world – again – to show that all of us can stop stinking up the air without sacrificing mobility, even on the longest and harshest routes.

Past round-the-world trips

The first trip around the world in an EV was in a time before there were many electric car chargers installed anywhere – and certainly no DC fast chargers yet, either. But de Mestre likes to say, “Wherever there is light burning, you can charge your car.” The point is that charging stations are far more available than most people think, and an EV can be charged anywhere that there’s electricity, which covers most of the world (he also saved his charging points in the Electromaps app).

A map of the 2012 route, with all charging stops marked. These are also stored in the Electromaps app.

It started as somewhat of a personal challenge – de Mestre had planned in 2013 to be the first to drive around the world once he took delivery of his Model S. However, in February 2012, a Citroen C-Zero took off from Strasbourg, piloted by two French drivers. Deciding he couldn’t let the duo beat him, de Mestre hastily planned a journey and set out from his native Catalunya in the electric car he had available, a Tesla Roadster, hoping to overtake the French team.

Over the next few months, the “race” took the two electric cars across Europe, the US, the Gobi desert, Kazakhstan, the Ural mountains, and Russia. In September, just a few weeks before the end of the trip, de Mestre managed to pass the Citroen and finished the journey around the world as the first electric car to ever make the trip.

Somehow, he found a way to off-road in San Francisco
An EV making a splash in Kazakhstan in 2012

The whole thing took 127 days – more than the 80 that de Mestre had hoped for, but given the limited time for planning visas and shipping across oceans (and a crash just 600 miles before the finish line), it’s not so bad for a first time out.

In 2016, de Mestre and 10 other teams completed a similar trip but this time with a greater variety of cars and more charger support. That trip involved one Roadster, eight Model S, one Denza, and one electric bus from the Hungarian company Modulo. And this time, they completed it in the planned 80 days.

Another trip was planned for 2020, but needless to say, travel was a bit more difficult that year. So that trip was pushed back and will now occur next year, in 2024.

Current solo circumnavigation – scouting for 2024

In advance of that trip, de Mestre has started on another solo world tour, scouting routes and locations for next year and looking for potential supporters or teams to recruit and join the trip. If you’re interested, check out 80edays to suggest stops or to express interest in becoming a team. It’s not cheap or easy, though; he’s looking for serious applicants.

You can track his location during this trip around the world, which has so far passed through most of the US – with a trip up the west coast remaining – and then will continue through Asia and Europe:

The route so far

This trip started in the US rather than Europe because he needed to get a new battery anyway. The original died after spending years in a museum, so the car was shipped to Gruber Motors, a Roadster repair shop in Arizona. Now, he’s got the upgraded 80 kWh battery, raising his range from the original ~240 miles to ~350.

To get the car to America, de Mestre accomplished what seems to be another zero-emission first – possibly the first car transported across the Atlantic with zero emissions (he couldn’t find any record of another vehicle doing the same, only transfers along the same coast).

For this feat, the car ended up in the cargo hull of the Avontuur, a cargo sailing ship. de Mestre said he was looking for a zero-emission shipping solution, but when he called the Avontuur, they told him they didn’t have enough space for a car. He pointed out that this wasn’t just any car; it was a tiny Tesla Roadster – and after checking the dimensions, they realized the car could just barely fit.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an option for zero-emission transportation across the Pacific – yet. So Seattle to Hong Kong will have to involve fossil fuels for now.

The trip across America has thus far consisted of meeting with various Tesla clubs and longtime electric vehicle advocates and testing the legs on his new battery (he was able to get nearly 400 miles on a single charge once). And while most of the country is in his rear-view mirror at this point, he’s still got the west coast to conquer in the next couple of days. There are a couple of events and meetups planned. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see the most recent updates to the calendar (and expect changes – he’s going around the world in a Roadster, after all).

Looking ahead to Asia, another goal of this trip is to take a different route than before. Previous trips have included significant legs through Russia, which is an easier and more developed route to cross Asia.

But with the war in Ukraine and the stranglehold that Russia has over the European fossil energy supply, de Mestre wants to take another route. He’ll avoid Russia by taking a ferry from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan across the Caspian Sea and entering Europe through Turkey. This will demonstrate how Russia could be cut out of commerce if it’s going to continue its aggressive actions.

He would also like to see more penetration of electric cars into areas outside of Europe, the US, and China and is working to coordinate the installation of charging points along his route. These other parts of the world are “like Europe was in 2012” – there are only a few EVs around, with a small but dedicated group of advocates. (Kazakhstan’s Tesla club has about seven people in it.) If the rest of the world can follow a similar trajectory, albeit delayed a bit, we’ll be on a good path toward easing the climate crisis.

Plans for 2024 and beyond

For the 2024 rally, de Mestre hopes to get 12 teams to complete 40,000 km of electric driving in 80 days – 500 km per day, consistently, for almost three months, even in the face of sometimes-slow charging, border crossings, and reliability issues. He’s planning to certify it as an official world record so that each team involved will have bragging rights that they were involved in one.

He also dreams of eventually completing a trip that involves driving to the Bering Strait and taking an all-electric car ferry across, completing a zero-emission circumnavigation in an electric car.

This is technologically possible, as there are electric car ferries already in use that would be capable of the journey, but none of them (nor any car ferry) travel between Alaska and Russia. So the political question, here, is a greater one than the technological one.

de Mestre’s adapter kit
Not a lot of luggage room in the Roadster

This brings up the point that the most frustrating moments of de Mestre’s trips have been at borders: visa troubles, fees, waiting for approvals, and so on. Between these troubles and the international nature of climate change, de Mestre has largely decided that borders are a roadblock to solving many of the world’s problems. When two countries are polluting across borders, rather than working together to solve the problem, what will often happen is that each one blames the other and does nothing to improve the situation – all the while, the global problem continues.

But these dreams are further in the future or perhaps can’t be solved by a single around-the-world trip. In the meantime, he’s focused on planning for next year’s trip, which starts in May. Find out more at 80edays.com, and follow the current trip on Instagram at @80edays_official or on X at @chargelocator.

Electrek’s Take

Some may ask what the purpose of a stunt like this is, thinking that it’s just a waste of time, money, energy, and so on. But this can be asked of many human pursuits, including many that are more useless than this.

There always needs to be someone who’s first to do something, who pushes the boundaries and shows people that something is possible.

And in this case, I am just one person who heard about the first trip way back in 2012 and yet have used it as an example countless times to show people that electric cars are more capable than they might have thought.

Maybe you live in Fresno and think there aren’t enough chargers near you because you aren’t in a huge city like LA… but if a car that can’t supercharge and uses a plug that no modern car does can make it through the Gobi desert, well, maybe Fresno isn’t so difficult after all.

A stunt like this provides an object lesson: if an IT consultant can pick up with little notice and drive an electric car around the world, with as little public charging support (and no supercharging) as there was in 2012, and then 10 more teams can do it again in 2016, and hopefully more teams again in 2024… then why are your circumstances so much more impossible? Maybe it’s not that hard after all.

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Jackery Early Prime Day sale with up to 65% discounts + bonus savings from $129, EcoFlow 48-hour sale, Anker solar cams, more

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57 mins ago

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September 23, 2025

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Jackery Early Prime Day sale with up to 65% discounts + bonus savings from 9, EcoFlow 48-hour sale, Anker solar cams, more

Headlining today’s Green Deals is Jackery’s Early Prime Big Deal Days sale that is taking up to 65% off power stations, solar generator bundles, and accessories, with bonus savings, free gifts, and more starting from $129. Among the offers, we spotted the Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station coming with a 200W solar panel for $649, with an additional FREE bundle option available too. From there, we have Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera back down at $65, as well as EcoFlow’s first Early Prime Day 48-hour flash sale, which has dropped the DELTA 2 Max power station and 800W alternator charger bundle to its $1,049 low, along with three other offers. We also have leaf and snow clearing solutions from Greenworks and other EV/backup power solutions waiting for you below. And don’t forget about all the hangover deals collected at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s EcoFlow Early Prime Day Sale lineup, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Jackery’s Early Prime Day sale drops Explorer 1000 v2 with 200W panel to $649 (50% off) + free bundle offer, more

Jackery has launched its Early Prime Big Deal Days sale running through October 6, with up to 65% discounts on its power stations alongside bonus savings, free gifts, and more. If you’re gearing up for fall adventures outdoors and off-grid, one of the best budget-friendly bundles to score right now is Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station with a 200W solar panel at $649 shipped, which is also matching over at Amazon and is eligible for a FREE refurbished Explorer 290. This combination of station and add-on equipment would normally cost you $1,299 in full, though over 2025, you’ve had the chance to score it between $749 and $699 with regular discounts. If you’ve waited until now to pick it up, you’ll get it at the best price we have tracked this year, behind the $599 low that appeared last year for only a few hours. Head below for more on this bundle, the sale’s promotions, and the full lineup of deals.

Before we jump into the details of pricing, let’s go over the many special promotions being offered during Jackery’s Early Prime Big Deal Days sale. First, orders that reach a $1,500 threshold can use the code OFFER5 for an additional 5% savings, though this does not include the HomePower 3000 series of deals. Next, you can score up to $830 in trade-in bonuses, with reminders that the 30% federal tax credits may be ending with the year, so don’t miss the opportunity to jump on that while equipping yourself with reliable backup power support. Lastly, there are some free gift promotions on the larger units in the sale, with the Explorer 5000 Plus series purchases getting a free refurbished Explorer 300 Plus, while the HomePower 3600 Plus models get a free refurbished Explorer 300, and the Explorer 2000 v2 gets a free refurbished 100W solar panel.

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Ever since its late 2024 release, Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 power station has become one of the brand’s best camping-focused backup power companions for folks not wanting to shell out too much money on larger units/combos. It brings a 1,070Wh LiFePO4 capacity to your trips and boasts 62 forms of charging protections from its ChargeShield 2.0 tech. Your devices and appliances are covered with up to 1,500W of steady power, which can surge up to 3,000W and offers seven ports for connection options.

When plans are known in advanced, all you’ll need is 1.6 hours charging from a standard AC outlet to get it back to full battery, and for more last-minute plans, you can activate the emergency charging feature with the in-app controls to cut that time down to just one hour. You can also charge as you drive through your car’s auxiliary/cigarette lighter port, and the 200W panel coming with the bundle puts you a third of the way towards its max 600W solar input, which can get the station back to full in three hours with proper sunlight.

***Note: The following prices have not had the extra savings taken into account, so be sure to use the code OFFER5 once your cart totals $1,500 or more to score the absolute best prices.

Jackery’s Early Prime Day deals for off-grid support:

Jackery’s Early Prime Day deals for appliance backup:

Jackery’s Early Prime Day deals for home backup:

Jackery’s Early Prime Day transfer switch deals:

You can browse the entire Jackery Early Prime Big Deal Days sale on the landing page here.

Anker eufy solocam s220 installed to outdoor wall in rain

Install Anker’s solar-powered eufy SoloCam S220 for year-round security while at $65

Over at Best Buy we spotted the older Anker eufy SoloCam S40 included as part of the Deals of the Day, which is getting beaten out in price by the newer SoloCam S220 Solar Security Camera at Amazon that is down at $64.99 shipped, with it also beating the individual costs from the multi-cam bundles while matching the price direct from the brand’s website. This model usually goes for $100 in full, which we’ve regularly seen brought down to $70 with discounts, and more recently to $65, only beaten out by the one-time $62 low that popped up during July’s Prime Day event. You’re looking at the next-best price while the rates hold strong, as they’ve been since last week, saving you $35 off the going rate and upgrading your home security with 24/7 solar charging.

If you want to learn more about this solar security device, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

ecoflow delta 2 max power station sitting on counter with toaster oven and condiment bottles

Charge on the go with EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max 800W alternator charger bundle at its $1,049 low (58% off), more

As part of its Early Prime Day Sale running through October 6, EcoFlow has launched the first of this event’s flash sales, with this one taking up to 58% off four units and lasting for 48 hours. Among the bunch, for folks living out their nomadic dreams, you can’t go wrong with EcoFlow’s DELTA 2 Max Portable Power Station bundled with an 800W alternator charger for $1,049 shipped, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $850. This bundle normally fetches $2,498 at full price from the brand and $1,899 over at Amazon (where it’s currently listed), with discounts having only gone as low as $1,049. You’re looking at another chance to score it at its best price here, with this two-day only deal giving you a total of $1,449 off its MSRP. Head below for more on this unit and the others seeing flash savings.

If you want to learn more about this bundle, or the other units seeing discounts, be sure to check out our original coverage of this 48-hour flash sale here.

man clearing path in front of home with greenworks 80V 12-inch cordless snow shovel

Prep for snow with Greenworks’ 80V 12-inch cordless shovel kit at the best price in six months for $233

Amazon is offering the Greenworks 80V 12-inch Cordless Snow Shovel with 2.0Ah battery at $232.74 shipped, which beats out the brand’s direct website pricing, where it is sitting at its full $350 MSRP. At Amazon, though, we’ve been seeing it hold out at $308 since March, and falling to $280 since late July, with the total 33% markdown off the MSRP that’s being offered here giving us the best pricing of the last 6 1/2 months, saving you $117 over buying it directly from Greenworks, and landing $33 above the annual low we last saw in January.

If you want to learn more about this snow clearing solution, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

woman clearing leaves in yard with greenworks 80V 750 CFM cordless handheld blower

Get up to 750 CFM clearing power with this 80V Greenworks handheld blower kit at $175 (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is offering the Greenworks 80V 750CFM Cordless Handheld Blower with a 2.5Ah battery at $174.99 shipped, with it even beating out the renewed offer direct from the brand’s website by $25. This model with this particular battery usually goes for $250 at full price, but you’re getting a $75 markdown through the rest of the day that lands it $5 under the usual $180 rate we’ve seen pop up over 2025 in these one-day sales. This is the best price we’ve spotted in 2025, with it only beaten out by the $170 low we last saw during Black Friday last year. What’s more, you won’t find this package at Amazon right now, with the closest models being either the 80V 500 CFM model with a 2.0Ah battery or the 80V 750 CFM backpack blower with a 4.0Ah battery.

If you want to learn more about this handheld leaf blower, be sure to check out our original coverage of this one-day-only sale here.

man sitting on Rad Power's RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike

Best Fall EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.


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What we know about Rivian software update 2025.34 including highway assist upgrades

Published

2 hours ago

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September 23, 2025

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What we know about Rivian software update 2025.34 including highway assist upgrades

Rivian software update

A new software update from Rivian was sighted earlier this month, and it’s being prepared for a full rollout to Gen 2 R1S and R1T EVs. The latest Rivian update includes upgrades to the American automaker’s Enhanced Highway Assist driving, more energy-conscious home charging capabilities, and a slew of other improvements outlined below.

Like most software-defined vehicles, Rivian models like the R1S and R1T receive periodic updates over-the-air (OTA). As a Rivian owner and an enthusiast, software updates are often exciting news to report on, as they usually result in new features or abilities to existing technology or enable various efficiencies (and bug fixes fixes, of course).

Over the past six months, we’ve seen updates like 2025.10, which rolled out to the public in early April, and 2025.14, which updated the BEV’s Highway Assist feature. In late May, RivianTrackr shared that software update 2025.18 was rolling out internally before launching wide to Rivian owners, and it was one of the more robust rollouts we had seen for a while.

Most recently, a similar site called RivianRoamer has reported on a new software update, 2025.34, which has already been spotted before it makes its way out to the public

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Rivian software update
Source: Rivian.com

Rivian software update adds new “Co-Steer” feature

Per reports, Rivian software update 2025.34 is in the works in a beta version before it inevitably makes its way to the community of R1S and R1T owners. That being said, please note that any of these listed features or improvements could change or be removed altogether before the update goes out wide.

The first notable upgrade pertains to the Enhanced Highway Assist ADAS in Gen 2 Rivian models. Right now, the pending software update will enable a new assist feature called “Co-Steer,” which will allow a driver to adjust their given position within a lane using “gentle steering inputs” without the Enhanced Highway Assist disengaging.

Speaking of Enhanced Highway Assist, Rivian shared that the availability of the ADAS feature has increased by up to 50%, particularly on urban and suburban highways. Lastly, the 2025.34 update includes a new perception model that improves lane centering performance, especially on curves.

Additionally, Rivian’s latest pending software update will allow your vehicle to automatically charge itself during off-peak times at your home when electricity is cheaper, ensuring your vehicle is ready when you need it.

According to the report, “smart scheduling” can cut annual home EV charging costs by 20% or more and increase your use of clean energy. You can enable this feature and monitor everything through your account in the Rivian app (version 3.5 or later).

Other updates and big fixes from 2025.34 (subject to change)

  • Audio improvements (Gen 2 Rivian models)
    • Fine-tuned equalization and delays to make the bass feel richer and more impactful
    • Soundstage improvements for better localization, separation, and layering
    • Improved blending of Dolby Atmos content for all listening positions
  • Performance improvements
    • Updated and improved media apps, including increased touchscreen responsiveness
    • Improved Navigation stability and responsiveness
    • Improved responsiveness to mobile commands while vehicle is asleep
  • Resolved rare issue that prevented users from accepting the terms of service for Rivian Navigation with Google Maps
  • Fixed issue that kept Gear Guard video thumbnails from displaying properly on the Motion Cam and Incidents screens
  • Resolved rare issue where the tonneau cover position is displayed incorrectly on certain screens of Gen 1 R1T models
  • Resolved rare issue that caused fog lights to turn off and exterior lights to revert to Auto mode (Gen 1)
  • Fixed issue that caused trip energy and efficiency data to fluctuate unexpectedly
  • Improvements to the accuracy of battery range on arrival estimates, including adding location air density as a factor for locations at higher elevations
  • Resolved rare issue that prevented the door handles from presenting for an unlock request while Car Wash mode is active (Gen 2 EVs)
  • Reduced excessive blower noise during climate control start-up in mild conditions while maintaining cooling performance in extreme temperatures (Gen 2 EVs)
  • Fixed rare issue that caused cabin conditioning requests initiated from the Rivian mobile app to fail on the first attempt (Gen 2 EVs)
  • Additional improvements for 12V battery health detection, including in-vehicle and mobile app notifications to alert you when the 12V battery needs to be replaced (Gen 2 EVs)

That’s all for now. As a reminder, the above release notes pertain to a beta version of the software update, and 2025.34 could be different when it reaches Rivian owners in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out for it!

In the meantime, I recommend scheduling a test drive with Rivian if you haven’t done so yet. See if you can get behind the wheel of an upcoming R2. It’s a winner!


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The Ford F-150 Lightning can now handle more of the driving for you

Published

4 hours ago

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September 23, 2025

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The Ford F-150 Lightning can now handle more of the driving for you

Ford-F-150-Lightning-BlueCruise-update

After rolling out a new BlueCruise software update, Ford said F-150 owners can now drive in hands-free mode up to eight times longer. The update is available for all 2022-2025 Ford F-150 Lightning models equipped with BlueCruise.

Ford rolls out BlueCruise 1.4 update for F-150 Lightning

Depending on the model year, the software update will take some Lightning drivers from BlueCruise 1.0 to the latest version, BlueCruise 1.4.

Ford said those who receive the update will notice a more natural driving experience and more time in hands-free mode compared to earlier versions.

According to the company’s internal testing, F-150 Lightning drivers can stay in hands-free mode on the highway eight times longer on average compared to the first version of BlueCruise. Even compared to BlueCruise 1.2, the update offers five times more hands-free driving time.

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For those with BlueCruise 1.0, the upgrade will offer a few notable improvements. For one, Ford said you will feel “a more continuous experience,” like when driving around tight corners.

Ford-F-150-Lightning-BlueCruise-update
2024 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum Black (Source: Ford)

You will also feel more centered in your line with less side-to-side movement. Ford said the update reduces deviations from the center of the lane by nearly 80% from the first version.

The update adds new features, such as In-Lane Repositioning, which automatically adjusts when you’re next to a large semi-truck to give you more space. With Lane Change Assist, you can now make a hands-free lane change by simply tapping the turn signal.

Ford-F-150-Lightning-hands-free-driving
The 2026 Ford F-150 Lightning STX (Source: Ford)

Ford is rolling out the new BlueCruise 1.4 update to 2022-2024 F-150 Lightning and 2022-2023 F-150 vehicles. The 2025 model year is being delivered with the update straight from the factory.

Earlier this month, Ford introduced a new STX trim for the 2026 F-150 Lightning. The new STX variant replaces the current base XLT model, offering more range and power for the same price.

As more updates become available, the company plans to extend the improved hands-free driving software to nine Ford and Lincoln vehicles. Ford has already deployed BlueCruise 1.3 to 2021-2023 Mustang Mach-E vehicles.

With the new 2026 Lightning around the corner, current models are available for lease starting at just $258 per month. You can use our link to find offers on the Ford F-150 Lightning near you (trusted partner).


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