A-to-Z EV Rally: Team Drax Electric Vehicles

Taking place 1-5 July, the EV Rally returns to the roads this year with an A-to-Z theme, covering around 1,400 miles while visiting checkpoints in alphabetical order. Leading up to the event, GREENFLEET caught up with Team Drax's Naomi Nye to find out how planning for the event is going

We are delighted that Drax Electric Vehicles is joining us on the EV Rally for the first time this year. Could you tell us why you decided to participate?

At Drax, we’re passionate about helping UK businesses electrify their fleet and the EV Rally brings together other like-minded organisations.

The EV Rally helps to demonstrate what’s possible with electric vehicles and puts to bed some of the challenges and untruths we’ve faced regarding the range of vehicles, models available, the UK charging network and how electrification can help businesses achieve their net zero ambitions.

We’ve watched the EV Rally closely over the previous years and we can’t wait to get involved this year!

Please tell us about Team Drax - who will be driving and in what vehicles?

Our teams will be taking part in a VW ID Buzz and a Polestar. Over the five days, colleagues from across our business will be taking part. I've been an EV driver for years, and look forward to getting behind the wheel too. We’re looking forward to demonstrating that electric is the way forward to those who have yet to commit.

The Rally is around 1,400 miles and this year will be visiting towns and checkpoints from A to Z in alphabetical order. What do you expect the challenges to be and are you going into the Rally with any particular strategy?

What’s exciting for us is a fleet driver could realistically have to drive 300 miles a day, or 1,400 miles in a week and this gives us the chance to prove it’s possible.

We know the route, we know where to stop to charge so being organised and planned is going to be vital. We’ve all seen the headlines over recent years regarding public EV infrastructure and the frustrations it can bring, so taking part in the EV Rally is showing that it is possible and that we can and will make it.

Day two of the Rally will see teams check-in at the 'I' Checkpoint - the 'Innovation Hub' at Drax Sports and Social club in Yorkshire. Please tell us about this facility and what teams can expect when they get there?

Our checkpoint is in the shadow of the Drax Power Station, Europe’s largest decarbonisation project. The Sports and Social Club plays a key role in the area and is a very important part of the local community.

We can’t wait to host the EV Rally participants and they’ll receive a very warm welcome. They can look forward to an interactive exhibition on Drax, plenty of food and drink to refuel for the onward journey and the chance to win prizes with a number of exciting games and more.

Why are events like the EV Rally important for driving up electric-vehicle adoption?

We’ve all seen the amount of fake news in the media about EVs and this event gives us the opportunity to show these stories for exactly what they are. Our drivers are EV advocates and have been driving them for years and are going to demonstrate what’s possible for organisations across the UK.

Please tell us about Drax Electric Vehicle's own sustainability plans and progress?

Drax Electric Vehicles is part of the Drax Group, the UK’s largest generator of renewable electricity. Our ambition is to be carbon negative by 2030.

We’re also undertaking projects to deliver Bioenergy with carbon capture, use and storage (BECCS) to remove carbon from the atmosphere and decarbonise all sectors of the economy.

We work with businesses as their net zero partner offering products including renewable electricity, carbon dioxide removal products, power purchase agreements, and EV infrastructure to help them on their net zero journey.

We’ve recently introduced an EV salary sacrifice scheme and already around 10 per cent of our employees have made the switch. For those colleagues where a car is required for their role, these are now also transitioning to EVs.

To keep up to date with EV Rally news, visit the website and follow the event of Linked In.