Now the EV Rally has wrapped its fourth year, Edmund King OBE, AA President, shares the highs, lows, and learnings from taking part in the event's most ambitious route yet.
The EV Rally is a real test of the infrastructure available to support electric vehicles (EVs), which is why this was the fourth year we've taken part, supporting both as The AA (Roadside Assistance Partner) and Drivetech (Driver Training Partner). And what a year to be involved. For the first time, the rally headed to Europe, spanning five countries and over 1,300 kilometres. How would it compare to the UK? How would we fare navigating charging instructions in different languages? And what would our experience mean for businesses transitioning to EVs?
The importance of infrastructure
It goes without saying that EV infrastructure is critical in the transition to EVs. Businesses and drivers need to feel confident when making the switch to electric and a big part of this is knowing they can charge up when they need to.
We're experiencing this first hand at The AA. We run a large operational fleet of over 3,000 vehicles and many of our patrols are now driving EVs. We know the impact it has when a charge point fails, charging cables are broken, when there's a lack of coverage in an area, and when software or payment issues crop up too. In the UK, we support one in three of the public charge points with our customer support service. So, infrastructure is a big deal to us too, and the 2025 Europa EV Rally was a perfect testing ground for us.
Lessons learned
Our all-electric road trip across Europe, visiting Belgium, The Netherlands, Amsterdam, Luxembourg and Germany, was an incredible experience. As well as the challenge of getting through the route powered by electric, throw into the mix instructions in different languages, working in kilometres not miles and driving on the opposite side of the road. We were certainly put to the test versus the EV Rally of previous years.
What the event demonstrated above all was the importance of planning ahead when driving an EV. This applies whether you're at home or abroad. It's essential to know where you're going to charge up and have a back-up in case you need to divert. Don't underestimate the importance of apps for this. They'll be your bible on the road, letting you know where you can charge, the provider, fees and much more. Having said that, the range on the cars we drove was better than in previous years, and there appeared to be several charging options when we were running low. In addition, on long journeys, it is advisable to take a break every two hours or so for safety reasons, and that can be combined with charging top-ups.
The road ahead
While most new paths present their challenges, they are paved with opportunities and the route to alternative fuels is no exception. The Europa EV Rally has shown us again that a fully electric future is an exciting one. There's no barrier between country-to-country travel, if you are prepared.
It remains our mission to support businesses and drivers as they transition to EVs. We'll continue to share our experiences of the realities of driving electric at every turn. Together, we've got this.
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