Grosvenor Sales Director Giles Bolton explains how the company is using this year’s EV Rally Cymru to demonstrate the capabilities of electric vehicles in rural areas, challenge common misconceptions around range and charging, and showcase its wider approach to helping businesses with a more sustainable future
We are delighted that Grosvenor is taking part in this year’s EV Rally Cymru. What made you decide to get involved?
Grosvenor was the first contract hire and fleet management specialist to pioneer the transition to electric vehicles when it launched its 0Zone solution back in 2017. By supporting our customers early, EV adoption has been extremely strong across our customer base, however there is still some resistance with certain car drivers to move to fully electric, and it has been well-publicised that the LCV sector has been slower to adopt.
By taking part in the EV Rally Cymru we can demonstrate the true capabilities of fully electric vehicles, even in more remote areas – hopefully giving reassurance to those who have been hesitant about range, charging infrastructure and the ability for EVs to support their business activities, that EVs are a viable option.
Can you tell us about your team – who will be taking part and what vehicles will you be driving?
The team comprises Grosvenor’s sales director, Giles Bolton, and regional business development manager, Paul Wickenden; both who are involved in supporting customers with the transition to electric cars and vans. They will be driving a fully Grosvenor branded VW iD Buzz.
As much of Wales is rural, are there any aspects of the EV rally that you expect to be challenging? If so, how are you planning to address them?
We’ve been driving EVs for many years and, in our experience, you can easily eliminate any challenges by planning ahead.
Through your Smartphone you have immediate access to where charge points are, with simple route planning via your chosen Apps you can very quickly establish a journey plan for even the more rural parts of the country, and by adapting your driving style with some simple changes you can achieve improved battery range.
This is one of the reasons we opted for the Cymru rally – to reassure drivers that you don’t need to be in more populated areas to have a fully electric car or van.
The EV Rally is aiming to bust some EV myths and misinformation this year – is there a particular EV myth you would like to challenge on the rally?
As mentioned in the previous question, we wish to bust the myth that EVs are only suitable for more populated parts of the UK. Battery technology is improving at pace, ranges are extending and, if you choose your EVs wisely, you’ll enjoy an extensive dealer network with superb after sales support.
You recently launched a consultancy service called VISTA – could you tell us more about this?
As businesses focus on the current challenges of achieving zero-emission motoring, Grosvenor is already looking over the horizon at ‘What’s next?’.
As a result, Vista is Grosvenor’s pioneering consultative solution that helps businesses plan for the future.
Supporting companies’ shift to vehicle policies that move employees from A to B sustainably, efficiently, and cost-effectively, Vista covers eight key pillars to help prepare companies for the years to come.
These include policies, technology, infrastructure, culture, regulations, financial implications, and propulsion. By focusing on these key pillars Grosvenor is advising businesses on more flexible, sustainable travel choices to sit alongside the company car.
Key areas include developing broader, more flexible business travel plans alongside the company car and grey fleet that offer greater choice as to how to get from A to B in the most cost effective, efficient and sustainable way.
It also includes ensuring company car and travel policies cater to the varying needs of an older, traditional workforce and a younger, more tech-savvy generation, as well as providing modelling for taxation, infrastructure and fuel options to support employee mobility and help companies plan for the future.