As the AA gears up for GREENFLEET’s first Europa EV Rally, the organisation brings with it years of EV rally experience. Here, the AA reveals why it’s backing the European leg of the event and how it’s preparing its team and vehicles
The AA is a familiar face on our UK-based EV Rally, but this is the first time the event has ventured into mainland Europe. What has made you decide to get involved in GREENFLEET's first Europa EV Rally?
We are proud to have been the EV Rally Roadside Assistance Partner since the series first began in 2021, the same year as the International Climate Change Conference (COP26). This year’s Europa EV Rally is a great opportunity to champion our European Partners. We’re part of the ARC network of European Breakdown organisations and we’ll be calling upon our partners to come to our rescue should we or the teams encounter anything out on the road. Being part of ARC gives us access to additional resources to help our customers when they are driving in Europe. We can be there in their time of need whether it be working with a local garage to gain access to parts or helping them at the roadside, we’re there for every step of their journey.
Please tell us about your team - who is driving and in what vehicles?
Our vehicles this year will be a BYD Sealion 7 and the new all- electric Ford Capri. We have a team of both experienced and new EV Rally drivers this year making up our combined team from both The AA and Drivetech.
The Rally will cover 1,300km over five countries in Europe. Do you have a particular strategy to get you through the Rally smoothly?
Our experience of rallies tells us that planning ahead is essential. The AA is working hard to decarbonise its own fleet, so we have drivers who drive EVs regularly and have a lot of experience. This year, we’ll also be joined by an ex-Patrol of the Year, Tony Rich, as well as reaching out to our European Partners from ARC, ANWB and others for support should we need it.
Have you had any experience of the public EV charging infrastructure in Western Europe where the rally is heading? Are there any areas that may be a challenge to charge?
The AA is part of the ARC network of European Breakdown organisations, and we’ll be calling upon our Partners to come to our rescue should we or the teams need support. The good news is that four of the five countries the rally is passing through are the top four with the most charge points in Europe:
• Netherlands (144,453)
• Germany (120,625)
• France (119,255)
• Belgium (44,363)
• 61% of all EU charging points are in France, Germany and the Netherlands
You're also joining the Rally as its Roadside Assistance Partner. Can you tell us what this means and how teams will benefit?
At the AA, we are all about creating confidence for drivers and this is a high-profile event that is the perfect showcase for demonstrating how EVs perform on demanding long-distance journeys.
The EV Rally series is one of the largest media events of the year, with networking opportunities, events and media opportunities along the way. These all help us to build connections and expand our messaging across the EV sector in the UK and Europe. It’s vital for businesses to see the AA at the heart of the real world EV driving experience, especially those who are looking for a trusted partner to assist them with their decarbonisation journey and the switch to EVs. Knowing that we’re there to support both their drivers and their fleet managers wherever they are on their decarbonisation journey is a great relief to so many.
Why are events like the EV Rally important for driving up EV adoption?
It’s about spreading awareness, championing innovation and proving that EVs are reliable, efficient and a viable alternative to ICE vehicles. The rally is an opportunity to talk about some of the factors that concern businesses such as infrastructure and range. Whether it’s a brand-new vehicles or a used vehicle, EVs are here and they’re suitable for almost every situation. It’s about creating confidence for business and their drivers and demonstrating that better planning and the infrastructure improving every day, there is never a better time to switch to an EV.
Please tell us about the AA's future plans?
At The AA we’re very proactive when it comes to decarbonising our large and diverse fleet. Our recovery vehicles are the most challenging to decarbonise and we have been running an award-winning “Test & Scale” programme for the last couple of years, testing out new fuel types, new vehicles and collaborating with partners to adapt existing vehicles to see where these changes can have a real impact without compromising on the high service levels our customers expect. We’ve rolled out electric vans across for Mobile Mechanic, Vehicle Inspection and Key Assist services which have proved popular with our patrols and technicians. We are also expanding HVO trials. The fuel has proved highly successful in reducing ‘tailpipe’ emissions by 95% and is an opportunity for our larger vehicles to bring down their fossil fuel usage.