EVOLVING… BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN!
After the huge successful launch of the EV Rally series of events, back in 2021, this year sees us return for a fourth incarnation of the Rally, this August.
2022 saw us take on the Tri-Hub Challenge, a 1-day showcase of 3 x EV Charging hubs, and that was followed last year by a 2-day EV Rally of Scotland (EVROS), taking on some 600 all-electric miles, with Teams from Transport Scotland, Scotrail, ScottishPower, Arnold Clark and Scottish Water, to name but a few.
22 August will see Teams assemble in Inverness, before setting off on a 2-day, near 600-mile event, following much of the iconic NC500 route, which will present a serious challenge for the participating Teams. With the start officially hosted by The Highland Council, we will spend all of the first day and much of the second in their region and we will use the Rally to highlight innovation in EV charging, as well as clean energy as we go. We finish Day 1 on the north coast, in Thurso, having completed 266 all-electric miles.
Day 2 sees the Teams progress across the north coast, taking in John O’Groats, before heading south, along the part-coastal ‘Electric A9’. We will once again pass through Inverness, before heading on to Aviemore, then down to Perth, followed by Falkirk and we then finish in Edinburgh. After a massive 319 miles, we will be seriously testing the fantastic ChargePlace Scotland public charging network.
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.
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
Showcasing charging infrastructure and more…
The route has been chosen to take teams far and wide, taking in areas with charging-a-plenty, as well as others where the infrastructure is not so readily available.
Incorporating some of the trickiest and most rural areas in the UK, taking on the iconic NC500 will be great… And at the same time, demonstrating how much the ‘Electric A9’ is helping Scottish fleets to electrify is equally as important.
Thanks to the social media power that comes from the EV Rally events, we will be able to highlight where government and local authorities need to focus their attention, if e-mobility is to become ‘the norm’.
Here’s what we have in store for those taking part, and those following progress online…
DAY 1
Start: Inverness
Checkpoint 1: Ballintoy
Checkpoint 2: Poolewe
Checkpoint 3: Ullapool
Checkpoint 4: Scourie
Checkpoint 5: Durness
Finish: Thurso (Overnight – 266 miles completed)
DAY 2
Start: Thurso
Checkpoint 1: John O’Groats
Checkpoint 2: Inverness
Checkpoint 3: Aviemore
Checkpoint 4: Perth
Checkpoint 5: Falkirk
Finish: Edinburgh (319 miles completed)