What began in 2009 with the Russian R297 Amur continued in 2010 with the Pan-American Highway: driving the world's two longest roads in a natural gas–powered car.
Rainer Zietlow and photographer and cameraman Marius Biela crossed the American continents on the Pan-American Highway from Argentina to Alaska, covering a distance of 35,781 kilometers.
They deviated from the classic route in part because the network of natural gas stations in southern Brazil and the eastern United States was significantly better than along the original route. The CNG-driven Volkswagen began its journey at the southernmost CNG station on the continent, located in Rio Grande, on January 2, 2010, and arrived at its final destination in Deadhorse on April 2, 2010. They bypassed the impervious Darien jungle between Colombia and Panama with a container ship.
The CNG supply was always sufficient, as the Caddy Maxi EcoFuel had a range of nearly 3,000 kilometers. They contacted private filling stations, such as those for forklifts, in advance. Highlights of the extreme CNG tour included driving over the "Death Road" in Bolivia, pressure refueling in Oklahoma at 250 bars, and driving through Alaska at -35°C.
Rainer Zietlow donated ten euro cents for every kilometer driven to an SOS Children's Village in Bogotá and visited it in person.
