Adelaide man Duncan Mallord has again charged into the history books, setting a new Guinness World Record on his electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire.
Mallord clocked an electrifying 962.7km at the Adelaide International Raceway last month requiring six charging cycles, earning him the record title for ‘greatest distance on an electric motorcycle in 24 hours’.
It comes almost 18 months after the EV aficionado collected the Guinness World Record for Greatest altitude change by an electric motorcycle—a feat that saw him ride 1880km from Lake Eyre to Mount Kosciuszko and spend just $15.50 in charging fees along the way.
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Mallord serves as the Adelaide location manager for global services firm Hatch, which specialises in mining and metals, energy, infrastructure and digital technologies. His latest record-breaking feat—which was officially entered into the Guinness World Records this week—comes at a pivotal moment for the nation’s EV industry.
With more investment in charging infrastructure and consumer education, Mallord believes Australia has the chance to join global leaders such as Norway (where 95% of all cars are now electric) in embracing EVs as a viable, sustainable and future-proof transport solution.
“Australia has been slow to adopt EVs, and part of that comes down to misconceptions about their performance and reliability,” he says.
“This record was my way of showing that electric vehicles are ready to tackle the challenges of this country—from long distances to tough conditions. With the right infrastructure and mindset, EVs can not only match traditional vehicles but exceed expectations.”
During his 24-hour marathon ride, Mallord battled blistering heat only to then endure torrential rain and lightning. While battling reduced visibility, he was forced to adapt his route and at one point he had to switch to riding up and down the track’s straight section under floodlights, completing 15 modified laps.
By dawn on day two, wear on the tyres necessitated a change in direction, and the final hours saw Mallord pushing through fatigue to make the most of every remaining charge. His LiveWire rolled to a stop halfway through a lap as the 24-hour clock wound down.
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“Every challenge, from the weather to the wear on my tyres, was a chance to demonstrate the real-world resilience of electric vehicles,” he says.
“I hope this record inspires people to see EVs not just as a novelty but as a powerful, practical, and sustainable option for Australia’s future.”
As for Mallord’s next big EV challenge, he’s setting his sights on a pioneering electric motorcycle around Australia to draw the largest GPS map in a country.
