Leading manufacturers are lining up to demonstrate the full range of EVs now on the market and aim to prove they can travel many miles on a single charge.
As the world’s attention turns to Glasgow for COP26, the crucial climate change summit, five teams of EVs will set off from the city on the five day trip across Scotland.
Team Stellantis
Stellantis is one of the world’s leading automakers and a mobility provider, guided by a clear vision: to offer freedom of movement with distinctive, affordable and reliable mobility solutions.
The rally will feature five of the Stellantis brands, each represented by one vehicle.
From Peugeot, there is the e-208, a five-door electric city car. Capable of up to 218 miles, depending on driving style, this car comes with full connectivity, including the iconic 3D i-Cockpit.
Citroen will be joining the line-up with the new E-C4, a vehicle that combines hatchback convenience with crossover versatility, all wrapped up in innovative EV technology.
“With 0% CO2, thanks to a motor and battery that is capable of delivering 217 miles, it’s an ideal family or business choice as we head towards 2030,” said rally organiser organiser Colin Boyton of PSI Group’s GREENFLEET Events. DS Automobiles, born out of Citroen, will feature the DS 3 Crossback E-Tense, the electric SUV that delivers 100 kW rapid charging capability. With a range of 191-206 miles, it is expected to breeze through the rally, with no issues at all.
Vauxhall will feature in the rally using the new Mokka-e. This all-electric game-changer will deliver 201 miles, from a 50kW battery and boasts 80% charge time in just 30 minutes.
“Finally, a truly iconic car that has gone electric,” said Boyton. “The Fiat 500 now wears an ‘e-badge’ meaning you can now get the famous retro interior that is adored worldwide, wrapped in a modern, sustainable and clean package. The 87kW model delivers 199 miles, with the safety net of Sherpa Mode, and boasts a full day’s driving (*30 miles) after just five minutes charging time.”
Team Maxus
MAXUS is leading the charge in the commercial electric vehicle sector and the company believes the rally will highlight just how integral EVs are to commercial fleets and the commercial vehicle sector.
“More than half of all our commercial vehicle sales are now electric, so spotting an EV van on the road is no longer a novelty,” said Mark Barrett, general manager of Harris MAXUS. “Advances in technology and battery range mean there’s an EV van for every journey and making the switch will help to future proof your fleet and contribute to the evolution of greener motoring.”
Launched in 2020 and designed from the ground-up for electric power only, the company will showcase the MAXUS eDELIVER 3, which has a range of up to 213 miles on a single charge. It was selected by the event organisers to shift rally kit and equipment around the 1,234 electric mile course.
Available in a 35Kw or 52.5Kw battery configuration with a 90KW /250Nm motor, the eDELIVER 3 is designed to maximise payload and performance. The ED9 large 3500kg panel van @72kw and 88.5Kw with a range of up to 219 miles and the ED3 Dropside tipper with 800kg payload and a range of up to 200 miles all feature in the EVROS rally.
Using a DC rapid charger can top up the batteries to 80% in as little as 40 minutes.
MAXUS also recently announced the introduction of its bespoke Intelligence Onboard Solution, which provides data driven insights into key areas such as state of charge, energy used, energy cost, charging data and improved range.
MAXUS is manufactured by SAIC, the largest automotive company in China.
www.saicmaxus.co.uk
Team Kia
Kia is a global brand with a vision for sustainable e-mobility and a leader in electric vehicle technology.
Kia UK is proud to be a partner of the Greenfleet EV Rally Of Scotland in 2021, an initiative which seeks to challenge opinions of electric driving and demonstrate, during COP26, why the future of driving is something to be truly excited about.
Electrification sits at the heart of Kia’s plans for the future, as the brand spearheads the popularisation of EVs worldwide. Under its new mid-to-long-term ‘Plan S’ strategy, the company will launch seven dedicated new EV models by 2026. Based on a new E-GMP (Electric Global Modular Platform) architecture, Kia will introduce these EVs across a range of different vehicle segments.
Launching in 2021, the all-new Kia EV6 is the first of the brand’s next-generation EVs. Embodying Kia’s early shift towards electrification, the EV6 is perfectly suited to the GREENFLEET EV Rally of Scotland.
Thanks to its advanced E-GMP technologies, it offers maximum driving range, ultra-rapid recharging times, and an engaging drive. Its sleek, aerodynamic crossover-inspired design also means it offers generous cabin space and high practicality – the ideal vehicle in which to cover 1,200 ‘e-miles’.
Supporting the EV6 will be the innovative e-Niro, born from the hugely popular hybrid and plug-in hybrid models. Capable of 282 miles on a single charge, thanks to a 64kW battery, the e-Niro is perfect as an everyday family or business car and as with all Kia models, comes with a standard seven-year warranty.
www.kia.com/uk
Team Polestar
Polestar is an electric performance brand determined to improve the society we live in by accelerating the shift to sustainable mobility. Polestar aims to be fully climate-neutral, circular, and inclusive. For Polestar, transparency is key.
Polestar is committed to driving positive change, through the development of new technologies, processes, and materials. Sustainability is embedded in their strategic direction, and in the choices they make at the drawing board, as they design towards zero.
Polestar produces two electric performance cars. The Polestar 1 is now in its final production run. This collector’s item is a low-volume premium performance hybrid GT with a carbon fibre body and precision engineering.
The Polestar 2 is 100% electric and takes the driving experience into the post-petrol era, through minimalist design and powerful performance. The Polestar 2 model range includes three variants with a combination of long – and standard range batteries as large as 78 kWh, and dual – and single motor powertrains with as much as 300 kW/408 hp and 660 Nm.
Polestar publishes full details of the carbon footprint of its latest models. The Swedish EV-maker believes the car industry should be a driving force in the shift to sustainable mobility, and that transparency is a key enabler. Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) consider a range of factors in a car’s life cycle, from supply to manufacture to recycling, and summarise this climate impact in one easily understood number.
It was clear from the start how important the Electric Vehicle Rally of Scotland was in driving visibility of climate impact and the difference electric vehicles can make in the fight against climate change. Polestar is proud to support the event with rally participants experiencing the performance, design, technology and sustainability demonstrated by the Polestar 2.
www.polestar.com
Team AA
Providing support for the other teams on the rally will be the AA who are launching a brand new EV Support Service in response to the growing EV market. Demand for all forms of battery, plug-in, and mild-hybrid electric vehicles (EVs) has risen significantly, representing a quarter of total new car market share in July – or just over 44k new vehicles on the roads. There are also more than 33.5k charging connectors on the public network in the UK, jumping almost 1k in just 30 days.
Following successful implementation across the SWARCO E.Connect UK network over the summer months, the AA will be rolling out a dedicated EV support package for several other operators in the domestic, workplace and public charging environments.
Dean Hedger, EV New Business Development Manager, said: “The AA EV Support Service builds on our existing capability across the business, including having the largest group of EV Level 2 trained technicians in the UK. One third of the AA Prestige garage network is already EV capable, most of our company cars are already EVs or plug-in hybrids, and AA Drivetech provides specific EV driver training. The logical next step is ensuring we can support the infrastructure accompanying EV vehicle adoption.”
As part of the EV Support managed services offer, the AA will support drivers if they need help at the charge point, handling calls about both the electric car and electric charging infrastructure. Hedger added: “We are keen to help both established and new EV drivers get to grips with technology so they can get as much enjoyment as possible from their EV driving experience.”
www.theaa.com
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