Xavier Degon

About Xavier Degon

In October 2010, alongside Antonin Guy, Xavier Degon conceived a project to promote electric mobility: “The Electric Odyssey”. This project aims to become the first round-the-world trip in a production electric car, thus raising public awareness of electric mobility. Their motto: “If we can travel around the world in an electric car, you can use it for your daily commutes.”

After a year and a half of preparation, nine partners (Citroën, EDF, Orange, Axa Assistance, Gefco, Cap Gemini Consulting, the city of Strasbourg, the Alsace Region, and AVERE France) joined the project, providing the material and financial conditions to start the adventure.

This journey represents a real challenge: every hundred kilometers, Xavier and Antonin will have to convince people to lend them an electrical outlet to recharge their car and continue their journey, no matter where they are on the globe. This incredible adventure has led them to experience dozens of difficulties but, above all, thousands of encounters around the world. It also allows them to discuss electric cars in the countries they traverse through about thirty conferences.

The challenge successfully concluded on September 24, 2012, with their arrival in Strasbourg after 8 months of travel, 17 countries crossed, 26,000 km traveled, and a cost of 250 euros for electricity. Its originality propelled the Electric Odyssey into the news of almost all national French media, television, radio, and press, as well as many foreign media. This project also served as the basis for a Google advertising campaign on television and the web.

Xavier Degon now shares his unique experience around the world and the management of this large-scale project during conferences.