As Drivetech joins GREENFLEET’s first Europa EV Rally, the global driver training and fleet risk expert will bring a unique perspective on cross-border road safety, driver behaviour, and EV readiness. We find out how planning for the event is going
Drivetech 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?
Drivetech is a global organisation, and this is a great opportunity to connect with our European partners and talk about how Europe and the UK are similar, and different in the way that they are tackling driver training and road safety. It will give us an opportunity to talk about best practice and share knowledge on areas that are highly topical in the UK, including graduated driving licences, potholes and speed limits. Our resources are available in multiple languages reflecting the number of countries where our training is available in Europe and beyond. In fact, we offer global fleet risk and driver training solutions in over 95 countries and in 35 languages via more than 40 partners.
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 1,300kms over five countries in Europe. Do you have a particular strategy to get you through the Rally smoothly?
We have been involved in all of the Greenfleet EV Rallies since their inception four years ago, and the key to success is planning. That, alongside teamwork and collaboration, has been fundamental to the successful completion of each one.
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?
We have Drivetech partners in Europe as well as partners within ARC. 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 4 of the 5 countries the rally is passing through are the top 4 with the most chargepoints 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 Driver Training Partner. Can you tell us what this means and how teams will benefit?
As part of The AA, we’re all about creating confidence for drivers and have built a vital library of online and in person EV training to help businesses give their drivers confidence when it comes to making the switch from ICE to EV vehicles. On every rally, we have been on hand to give teams valuable tips on driving safely and efficiently in EVs over the years, helping to optimise range and performance and reduce any anxiety.
Why are events like the EV Rally important for driving up EV adoption?
One of the most talked about barriers to EV adoption has historically been range anxiety, but as EV adoption and infrastructure availability grows this is dissipating. The aim of long-distance events like the EV Rally it to test infrastructure in real time so that we can give real world insight into the realities of taking on longer journeys, with the aim of increasing confidence for drivers, no matter how demanding their routes might be.
Please tell us about the Drivetech’s future plans?
Drivetech continues to innovate and optimise digital, telematics and AI capabilities to enhance performance. Our Halo Insights platform is already helping businesses to better manage their fleet risks.