EV Rally Cymru | EV Rally 2024

EVOLVING… FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE CAPITAL CITY CHALLENGE!

After the EV Rally arrived in Cardiff in July ‘23, we formed the largest moving showcase of EVs ever assembled in the UK. Setting off from the iconic Cardiff Barrage, the Teams made their way across the structure in a procession consisting of electric cars, to vans and even 19 and 27 tonne electric trucks.

With representation from the Welsh Government and Cardiff Council attendance, it was quickly agreed that the Rally concept would return in ‘24, allowing us to build on the success of the main event.

13 November will see Teams assemble in Cardiff, before setting off on a 2-day, 500-mile event.Having made their way through mid-Wales, in an anti-clockwise direction, taking in Brecon Beacons, Powys and up past Llangollen, we finish Day 1 on the north coast, in Bangor, completing more than 230 all-electric miles.

Day 2 sees the Teams carry on, heading south through Blaenau Ffestiniog, down to Machynlleth, Aberystwyth, via Cardigan and then across to Neath Port Talbot for the Finish.

Assisting the organisers will be Event Logistics Partner, Maxus whose award-winning electric vans will be used to deploy event branding, flags and Checkpoint materials and staff. They will also use the Rally, as ‘Team Maxus’ to showcase their new to market E-Deliver 7 mid-size electric commercial vehicle, as well as GREENFLEET Vehicle of the Year for 2023 – the all-electric T90 Pick-Up.

Following the Teams will be our ‘Roadside Assistance Partner’, The AA whose ‘yellow comfort blanket’ will be warmed and ready should any of the Teams have any issues.

Also we have Voltric as our trusted 'Charge Card Partner' for this EV Rally.

To assist with ensuring drivers actually make the best use of their batteries, we have our ‘Driver Training Partner’, Drivetech They will address the teams and post across our Team channel, offering eco-driving tips, sprinkled with driver safety information, ensuring ‘range anxiety’ is merely a myth, and not a reality.

TAKE A LOOK THE TEAMS TAKING PART

CHECK OUT THE ROUTE

CLIMATE ACTION WALES: IT’S TIME FOR CLIMATE ACTION

What is Climate Action Wales and why was it set up?

In 2019, Wales was the first nation in the world to declare a climate emergency. Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity, and the changes needed to tackle it will have far reaching impacts upon, and will be shaped by, the way we all live our everyday lives. Climate Action Wales was set up by the Welsh Government in 2023 as a national public engagement and communications programme designed to support and encourage everyone in Wales to play a part. The purpose of the programme is to involve the people of Wales in decision-making about solutions for tackling climate change, and through a national campaign and climateaction.gov.wales website, to demonstrate how together we can make a difference by changing our travel, home energy, food and consumption choices.

WHY ARE CLIMATE ACTION WALES & WELSH GOVERNMENT INVOLVED IN EV RALLY CYMRU?

Transport is the third largest carbon emitting sector in Wales, and Climate Action Wales explains how changes to our travel behaviours will help reduce these emissions and will bring other benefits such as improving air quality, saving money and enhancing our overall health and wellbeing. Alongside making more conscious choices around reducing our reliance on cars through active travel and by using public transport more often where we can, the campaign also aims to prepare people for 2035 when we won’t be able to buy new petrol diesel vehicles. This means helping people to be more informed about electric vehicles ahead of the shift to electric.

Our involvement in the EV Rally Cymru will provide an opportunity for people considering the switch to electric to hear from the experts, and to pose questions they may have around EVs, from their environmental credentials (e.g. from the batteries, and emissions generated through the manufacturing process), to other factors such as affordability to buy and maintain one, range and suitability for long journeys, availability of public charging points, cost and/or practicality around home charging points, safety, driving performance and more

WHY ARE EVENTS LIKE THE EV RALLY IMPORTANT FOR DRIVING UP ELECTRIC-VEHICLE ADOPTION IN WALES?

The EV Rally Cymru event is important as it will bring together the Welsh Government, Transport for Wales, public and private sector organisations to explore how we can deliver a more sustainable transport system for Wales. This includes reviewing progress with Wales’ EV charging infrastructure, decarbonisation of bus, rail, HGVs and taxis, and transitioning public sector and business fleet to ultra-low emission vehicles. Part-funding the EV Rally Cymru, the Welsh Government aims to deepen our understanding on the barriers to EV adoption, with a particular focus on fairness and social justice – using the evidence to inform future Government policies designed to reduce transport emissions.

The event will provide an opportunity to share our Climate Action Wales national communications, including Government messaging on EVs. The event will also coincide with Wales Climate Week (an annual virtual climate conference bringing people together to discuss climate change), broadening the audience for the EV Rally Cymru. The EVOLUTION Cymru event at Techniquest on 12th November, featuring a dedicated workshop, with panel discussions, will also be broadcast online, via a live link up, for delegates attending the Wales Climate Week virtual conference.

HELPING THE TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES…

With tackling transport emissions across Wales top of the agenda, EV Rally Cymru will demonstrate the viability of EVs for business use in fleets, what the Welsh public charging network currently looks like, where attention needs to be applied to create a more expansive and accessible network, and much more.

Teams will leave Roald Dahl Plass on 13 November and embark on a 2-day, 500-mile moving showcase, taking in charging hubs, clean energy projects and also some of the most rural roads anywhere in the UK. Each of the 2 days will be broken down into a series of Official Checkpoints (CP), where drivers will stop, ‘Check In’ and then take to social media, to amplify the message. Fancy visiting a CP and meeting the Teams and drivers? Check out the route below, pick a day and a CP close to you and pop down… The more, the merrier!

Here’s what we have in store for those taking part, and those following progress online