In a bold effort to reinforce the possibilities of sustainable mobility, four fully-electric Citroën AMI vehicles travelled from Morocco to South Africa, through 16 countries, over four months, using only renewable energy.
In 1924, French automotive pioneer André Citroën launched La Croisière Noire, one of the most daring expeditions of the early 20th century. His team set out to cross Africa from north to south in half-track vehicles, something never attempted with motorised transport. The eight-month expedition aimed to showcase Citroën’s engineering innovation while also serving as a scientific and diplomatic venture, mapping landscapes, documenting cultures and wildlife, and establishing new trade connections. A century later, a modern expedition retraced this historic route—not to demonstrate mechanical endurance, but to prove that such a journey could be completed using only renewable energy.
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On February 28, 2025, La Croisière Verte completed its four-month voyage from Kenitra, Morocco to Cape Town, South Africa. The expedition, led by former rally-raid driver Éric Vigouroux, travelled through 16 countries in four solar-powered Citroën AMIs. The team relied entirely on renewable energy, stopping at solar, wind, and hydroelectric plants to recharge their lightweight vehicles.
The journey officially began in Ouarzazate, Morocco, on October 28, 2024—the centenary of Citroën’s original expedition. Trading the fuel-powered half-tracks of the 1920s, La Croisière Verte would be driven by ultra-light, urban electric vehicles modified for long-distance travel. The general range on the Citroën AMI is 70 kilometers, which extended to 250 kilometers for the journey, while the vehicles were also fitted with portable solar charging stations.
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Unpredictable terrain, extreme weather, and charging limitations required constant adjustments to the route, but despite the logistical difficulties, the team completed the journey without external assistance. Long journeys are a primary sticking point in the conversation around electric transport, and the completion of the trip—albeit a lengthy expedition—is a success story for electric mobility, especially in the context of an African continent still far behind Europe’s green conversion,
Beyond testing technology, the journey also served as an opportunity to engage with communities, researchers, and energy specialists across Africa. The team visited universities, renewable energy projects, and local engineers, to highlight Africa’s growing role in sustainable technology.
Filmmaker Claudio von Planta, known for his work on The Long Way Up, documented the journey, capturing both its triumphs and obstacles. His footage will provide insight into how emerging electric mobility technologies fare in real-world conditions far from urban infrastructure.
Arriving in Cape Town, the team was welcomed with a parade at the Royal Cape Yacht Club, solidifying the successful end to the expedition. While La Croisière Verte paid tribute in art to a past expedition, it also raised important questions about the future of sustainable transport. Designed with efficiency and adaptability in mind, small electric vehicles were able to make it through an often harrowing route down Africa.
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