# Wind-Powered Road Trips The Wind Explorer Completes an Epic 5,000 KM Journey By Meghan Young | Published 2011-02-18 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wind-explorer References: [gizmag](http://www.gizmag.com/wind-powered-car-completes-cross-continental-journey/17892/) & [wind-explorer](http://www.wind-explorer.com/index.php/start_en) What do you get when you put two Germans into the Wind Explorer? An epic, eco-conscious journey across Australia. Driving a [lightweight electric car](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/basecamp-20xe) that was powered by [electricity-generating wind turbines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shine-20) and kites alone, Television host Dirk Gion and engineer Stefan Simmerer have completed a worthy feat. In the end, the Wind Explorer drove 5,000 km over 18 days. It achieved [three world records](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/gac-group): first time a continent was crossed by a wind-powered vehicle, longest overall distance completed and longest distance completed in 36 hours. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.7/10 - Popularity: 88% | Activity: 45% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Wind-powered Vehicles:** The development of more efficient and practical wind-powered vehicles presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the transportation industry. - **Renewable Energy Generation:** Advancements in electricity-generating wind turbines and kites open up disruptive innovation opportunities in the renewable energy sector. - **Eco-conscious Travel:** The increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly travel experiences creates disruptive innovation opportunities in the tourism industry. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Automotive:** The automotive industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities in developing and commercializing wind-powered vehicles for green transportation solutions. - **Energy:** The energy industry can leverage advancements in wind turbine and kite technology for disruptive innovation in renewable energy generation and electricity production. - **Tourism:** The tourism industry can tap into disruptive innovation opportunities by offering eco-conscious travel options that incorporate wind-powered transportation and sustainable practices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Travel-Ready Wind Turbines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wind-turbine-generator.md) - [Electric Adventure Trailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ae1.md) - [Portable Wind Generators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Portable-Wind-Generator.md) - [Futuristic Solar-Powered Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lightyear-0.md) - [Solar-Powered Sedan Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vision-eqxx.md) - [Aerodynamic Electric Camping Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-charging-camping-vehicle.md) - [Sustainable Car Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/we-harvest-wind.md) - [Wind-Powered Flying Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/super-flying-car.md) - [Electric Vehicle World Records](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hyundai-ioniq-5.md)