Organised by GREENFLEET, the five-day electric vehicle rally designed to test whether Britain’s vehicles, charging infrastructure and support services are ready for the continued growth of electric transport, got underway today.
Sponsored by Lex Autolease and taking place over the next five days, the GREENFLEET Mythbusters EV Rally will see electric cars, vans, trucks and trailers travel across Britain in a real-world test of the country’s EV ecosystem.
This year’s event features two simultaneous routes for the first time. One undertaken by electric cars and vans, while a dedicated Trucks & Trailers route will examine the growing challenges surrounding the electrification of commercial vehicles. Together, the teams are expected to cover more than 1,850 miles and are required to 'check-in' at various stops along the way.
The rally will examine areas including public charging, battery recycling, vehicle maintenance, long-distance journeys, roadside assistance and the ability of electric vehicles to operate in rural and mountainous conditions.
For fleet operators, the commercial vehicle element will be particularly significant, with the rally visiting e-HGV charging infrastructure and examining whether the developing network can meet the different operational requirements of electric trucks.
Teams taking part include the AA, KwikFit and E.on, with tracking for the rally provided by Quartix.
Edmund King, AA president, said:
“The next phase of electrification is about making sure vehicles, drivers and infrastructure are ready to work together.
“The Greenfleet Mythbusters EV Rally gives us the opportunity to put that readiness to the test in real-world conditions, from passenger cars and vans through to trucks and trailers. The question is no longer simply whether an electric vehicle can complete a long journey, but whether the wider ecosystem can support electric transport reliably and at scale.
“With more than 2 million electric vehicles now registered on UK roads, the demands on charging infrastructure, drivers, businesses and roadside services are increasing. We want to use the rally to see where the system is working well, where challenges remain and what needs to happen as electrification becomes an increasingly important part of Britain's transport network.
“From charging hubs and battery recycling facilities to truck stops, mountain roads and long-distance journeys, we'll be seeing first-hand how the technology and infrastructure perform in a range of real-world conditions. Finishing at Everything Electric in Twickenham gives us an opportunity to bring those lessons together and share them with businesses and the wider industry.”
