Explorer EV Rally 2025: showcasing the power of EVs and UK charging

The 2025 EXPLORER EV Rally, organised by GREENFLEET, proved to be a powerful showcase of electric vehicle (EV) capability, clean energy innovation, and the strengths and challenges of the UK’s public charging infrastructure. 

Spanning over 1,000 miles across five days, the Explorer EV Rally saw teams from across the fleet, logistics and automotive sectors 
drive a diverse range of electric vehicles from Newquay in Cornwall to Tatton Park in Knutsford, stopping at designated check points 
along the way.

There were electric vehicles of all sizes and types, from cars to vans, pick-ups, 4x4s, trucks, and even an electric bus.

Kicking off on 1 September at MFG’s impressive charging hub in Newquay, the rally – sponsored by Lex Autolease – followed a carefully planned route that incorporated numerous clean energy sites and electric vehicle charging hubs, as well as visiting some of England’s finest landscapes.

One of the rally’s most unique early stops was at Dunkeswell Aerodrome, where Aerovolt showcased the world’s first public smart charging network for electric aircraft. Other visits included Haynes Motor Museum and Instavolt’s charging hub, off the A34 in Winchester, which houses an impressive 44 ultra rapid EV chargers.

There was also a check-in at PB Design’s warehouse in Clevedon, where the EVjuiceNGo was demonstrated. These DC fast chargers are complete with V2X grid support so that EVs provide energy when not driven.

By day two, the teams had checked in at Gridserve’s electric forecourt at Gatwick, Bewl Water in Kent, and the elegant Sopwell House in St Albans where Zaptech showcased its newly launched V2G capable charger. The day concluded in Dawsongroup Vans’ depot in Milton Keynes, home to a state-of-the-art clean energy microgrid. With a 262kWp solar system, large-scale battery storage, and over 30 EV chargers, the site underscored how commercial vehicle hubs are preparing for an electric future.

Celebrating innovation

The halfway point on 3 September was marked at the Cenex Expo, hosted at UTAC Millbrook Proving Ground. Here, the rally teams showcased their vehicles to expo attendees and joined discussions on the role of EVs in future mobility. Cenex CEO Robert Evans welcomed the rally, praising it as a real-world demonstration of zero emission transport in action. 

The third day ended in a highly memorable end checkpoint at Drax Electric Vehicles’ office in Ipswich, where teams were greeted with a BBQ, drinks, games and massages.

The route continued through other standout locations, including Silverstone, where teams visited 3ti’s Papilio3 solar-powered EV charging hub, and Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham, which is turning clean energy technologies into commercially viable systems. SIXT hosted teams at their van and truck site in Eccles, Manchester, giving teams much needed lunch and refreshments.

Day five included a visit to the Chamber House solar farm – Greater Manchester’s largest publicly owned solar site, before teams made 
their final push to the end.

Tatton Park in Knutsford hosted the rally’s finish line, sponsored by Lex Autolease, where participants were awarded medals and celebrated completing an ambitious, all-electric journey across the UK.

Colin Boyton, the rally’s event manager, highlighted the 2025 rally’s new focus: “This year saw us embrace the theme of clean energy and innovation. The teams discovered cutting-edge projects that are accelerating e-mobility in the UK fleet sector. Partnering with Cenex and visiting their Expo added another exciting layer to the rally.”

Partners and sponsors

The event owed much of its success to key partners. Lex Autolease was the headline sponsor and host of the finish-line wrap up celebration at Tatton Park.

OVO Energy provided charge cards granting access to over 55,000 chargers, as well as an app which allowed for route planning. Farizon supported logistics with its new electric SV van and the AA offered roadside assistance, with Drivetech delivering EV driver training, tips and advice. 

BMW and MINI, as the official Vehicle Partner, supplied a fleet of electric cars for GreenFleet staff and media teams.

Webfleet was once again the event’s technology & data partner, providing official data insights into the most efficient  drivers.
    
Team insights

A wide variety of teams took part, including Mercedes Benz Trucks, MINI, Zaptec, Drax Electric Vehicles, SIXT, Speedy, Harris Higer, Tusker, EVjuiceNGO, as well as the the rally’s partners and sponsors.

Team Lex made a strong impression on the EV Rally by bringing a range of affordable electric vehicles to the road, including models like the BYD Dolphin Surf and the Xpeng, as well as a fully electric refrigerated van and a 4x4 pickup. Their goal was to demonstrate that electrification doesn’t have to come at a premium, showcasing diversity in both vehicle type and price point. Highlighting accessibility, Team Lex was joined for a day by Mark Pengelly, a wheelchair user, who provided important real-world feedback on how both the vehicles and the public charging network perform for people with disabilities or mobility challenges.

Chris Chandler from Lex Autolease commented: “Our theme for the rally is affordability, so we’re in a BYD Dolphin Surf and a Xpeng, both on the affordable end.” He continued, “A few years ago, we were encouraging people to go electric, but the technology was still too new and expensive. Now, with falling prices, increased model choice, better range, and tax-efficient schemes like salary sacrifice, EVs are more financially accessible than ever.”

Meanwhile, Team Tusker hit the road in a Ford Puma Gen-E and a pre-owned Kia EV6 to demonstrate the practicality and value of used electric vehicles.

OVO Energy helped to simplify the rally for drivers by providing charging cards that offered access to over 55,000 public chargers across the UK. Kate Jeffreys from Team OVO commented: “With coverage of around 55,000 chargers, we’re showing that people can be a lot more relaxed on their EV journey. That frantic planning from a few years ago just isn’t necessary anymore.”

The spirit of collaboration was a recurring highlight. Esther Jones from Team AA summed it up: “The highlight of the rally is collaboration and seeing it in action. We’re all supporting each other, and if we could amplify that, the transition to electric would be so much easier.”

Jennifer Morris from Drivetech reflected on the educational impact of the rally: “Our mission at Drivetech is to promote safe and efficient driving, and this event is the perfect  place to do that. We’ve discovered that many drivers here have never driven an EV before, so it’s a great opportunity to help them embrace the technology with confidence.”

With a number of electric vehicles on the fleet, Team SIXT used the EV Rally as an opportunity to test the electric vehicles internally, so they can pass that experience and expertise on to the customer.

Efficient commercial vehicles

Farizon entered three SV electric vans into the rally, each configured differently: one with a refrigerated unit, another with a racking system, and a third loaded with bulky event equipment. The performance of the Farizon SV vans exceeded expectations, with two models outperforming their official WLTP efficiency figures. “People are used to taking the official range and efficiency stats with a pinch of salt,” said Calum James, general manager of Farizon UK. “So I’m very proud that the data collected demonstrates just how efficient the Farizon SV is in the real world, on real roads, with realistic loads.”

Mercedes-Benz Trucks returned to the rally with the production version of the eActros 600, having showcased the prototype the previous year. This time, they brought multiple trucks, including one pulling a trailer loaded to 40 tonnes. James Venables of Mercedes-Benz Trucks reflected: “Last year, we had the prototype. This year, we’ve got production trucks, and some are already in customer hands, which is amazing to see.”

Harris Higer brought its STEED, a nine metre electric bus, which effortlessly showcased its long-distance capabilities, covering over 1,490 miles across four stops in just one week.

Team Speedy had a different approach this year. Kris Parkes explains: “We’ve done cars in the past, but that’s now too easy. This year we are in two big vans, and it’s not even been that difficult. They charge really fast and the range on them is great.”

BMW Group participated with a strong electric line-up, including the BMW i4 eDrive40, iX xDrive60, the MINI Countryman and Aceman. Rachel McDermott from BMW Group said: “We’ve got a fantastic electric product range that we love showing off, but we also really enjoy engaging with so many EV enthusiasts. With all the technology and safety features built into our vehicles, you really can just enjoy the journey.”

Rounding off the rally’s key themes, Naomi Nye from Team Drax Electric Vehicles commented: “The EV Rally is such a positive and engaging way of showing what’s possible with both EVs and charging infrastructure. It helps to counter negative media narratives around range and charger availability, and reinforces how electrification supports organisations on their journey to net zero.”

Awarding efficient driving

Webfleet, as the rally’s technology & data partner, providing official data insights into the most efficient drivers. The data uncovered revealed that Team Lex came up top of the leaderboard for energy efficient driving in their Isuzu 4x4 pick up, scoring 110.82 per cent against WTLP figures. Team Speedy came second in their Ford E-Transit, achieving 107.23 per cent versus the WTLP figure, while team Lex also scooped third place in their refrigerated Ford E-Transit – achieving 102.22 per cent. 

The 2025 Explorer EV Rally concluded on a high note, showcasing just how far the electric vehicle industry has progressed in just a year. With a wider range of vehicles, significantly improved driving ranges and a more robust charging infrastructure, the experience of driving an EV is becoming increasingly comparable to that of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles. While challenges still exist, the EV Rally plays a crucial role in bridging the gaps, highlighting what’s working, identifying what still needs improvement and bringing industry players together to drive practical solutions forward.