EV Rally of Cymru - what we learnt

Wales' largest Rally of electric vehicles embarked on a two-day, 500-mile journey to bust the myth that electric vehicles don't have the range or capabilities to become the integral part of a fleet's DNA. Here's what happened next.

Picture the scene; more than 25 electric vehicles (EVs) split between 13 enthusiastic teams leave Roald Dahl Plass, Cardiff on 13 November at 9.00am. They are there for the EV Rally of Cymru, a showcase of EVs part-funded by Welsh Government & Climate Action Wales, with the aim of raising awareness of what the Welsh public charging network looks like and how it can capably supports e-fleets.

The Rally was supported by several key partners – BYD as the vehicle partner, Voltric as the charge card partner, Maxus as the logistics partner, and The AA offering roadside assistance. Each also had a dedicated team driving in the Rally. Other notable teams included Paua, Drivetech, National Grid, Motability Operations, Speedy Hire, Evolt Charging, and Hyppo Hydrogen Vehicle team, which drove the Toyota Mirai. This was the first time a hydrogen vehicle had participated in the Rally, and it achieved an impressive eight per cent better efficiency than its WLTP rating.

The Rally route spanned two days, covering significant landmarks across Wales, with day one alone covering 230 miles. Despite the distance, vehicles competently tackled some of the most rural roads in Wales. Sponsored checkpoints included Costelloes EV Group in Wrexham and MFG Charging Hub.

On day two, the Rally began in Bangor, giving drivers the chance to see the wonderful scenery. After a long day of driving, sponsors NPT Council and the SILCG Programme congratulated all teams at the finish line in Neath Port Talbot at the Bay Tech Centre.

The Rally’s top teams were: Team Welsh Government, driving the Hyundai Kona Electric, in third place; Team Voltric, driving the MG4 SE Long Range, in second place – with Team National Grid achieving first place, driving the Ford Custom.