5 days, 5 cities, 5 Countries, more than 100 drivers, 50 electric vehicles and an almost 2,000 e-kilometre convoy journey across the UK and Ireland, saw Dublin host the conclusion of the 2023 EV Rally, organised by GreenFleet magazine to demonstrate the role electric vehicles play in the modern world.
The Five Cities EV Rally Challenge, which started in Cardiff, Wales on 3 July, saw the drivers power into Dublin and cross the finishing line at the headquarters of commercial vehicle distributor, Harris Maxus, on the Naas Road. As well has hosting the finishing event, Harris Maxus took part in the electric challenge with a team of four drivers completing the full route in two MIFA 9 (electric MPV) and T90EV (electric pick-up truck) vehicles.
Mrs Denise Harris, CEO of The Harris Group, welcomed participating teams and rally organisers as they crossed the finish line: “We’re thrilled to welcome the EV Rally to Dublin and are honoured to be part of this fantastic showcase. This event is an important one, demonstrating EV capabilities in terms of power, technology, and real-world range. The road to zero is long, and we are still a while away from the finish line, but events such as this help encourage drivers to transition to EV and highlight to stakeholders and governments alike that there is still work to do to drive forth the move to net zero motoring.”
As the Official Event Logistics Partner, MAXUS supported the EV Rally with transport solutions, providing rally organisers with supporting vehicles through each stage of the event.
The 50-strong convoy of electric vehicles was made up of eLCVs, e-motorcycles and zero-emission trucks which were driven by fleet professionals, key industry people, media and celebrities.
The teams set off from Cardiff and travelled through England to Bristol, Heathrow, Wembley and Leicester before finishing the first stage at Nottingham. On day two, drivers travel 316 e-miles through York and head north to Edinburgh city in Scotland.
The third leg saw the group travel from Edinburgh to Cairnes on the west coast of Scotland before boarding a ferry to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Day four and five saw the delegates loop through Cloughmills and Ballymoney to Newry in County Down before making their way south of the border passing scenic check points in Counties Westmeath, Kildare, Wicklow and reaching the green chequered flag in Dublin.
While in Ireland, Fleet Transport and sister publication Green Fleet Management took part in the exercise, driving the Mercedes-Benz eActros and DAF LF Electric along the designated routes. Full report and more photos to feature in the next edition of Fleet Transport.
