EV Powered Magazine - JUNE 2022 EDITION

EDITOR’S NOTE

Is the future already here?

Last month, I said that the future is bright for the world of electric vehicles, but perhaps that future is closer than we think. In this issue, we will see more announcements of EV charging hubs, an insight into the growth and popularity of community charging, and a fullscale breakdown of every car manufacturer’s electrification strategy, many of which are set to ramp up EV production in the next couple of years.

As well as this, sales of electric vehicles continue to grow, as does the used market for electric vehicles, which reached a record high in the first quarter of the year. Whilst there is still undoubtedly lots more to be done in order to reach this electric future, perhaps this year is the tipping point.

You can find our overview of every manufacturer’s EV strategy on page 21, and you will discover which brands will be leading the charge for electric vehicle production and which ones may be lagging behind. I am lucky that, as part of my job, I get to drive and review all new electric cars, and this feature in particular has made me realise that I am going to be very, very busy over the next few years.

One of the cars I have had the pleasure to review recently was the Porsche Taycan. I have to admit, the Taycan has always been my ‘dream EV’ but I was curious to see if it still holds its own against a growing list of remarkable electric cars after all these years. Head over to page 17 for my in-depth report and my final verdict.

We will also have an overview of Formula E’s most recent E-Prix, which took place at the iconic Tempelhof Airport in Berlin back in May. In typical Formula

E fashion, it was a great weekend of racing and victories for Edoardo Mortara and Nyck De Vries have reignited an intense battle for the Drivers’ Championship. I was out there for the first day of the double-header weekend, and if you want to know what a day in the life of Formula E looks like from behind-the-scenes, then head over to our TikTok page or our YouTube channel for a quick-fire look at the Berlin E-Prix.

Elsewhere in the issue, we celebrate the start of summer with a list of some of the best European road trips for electric cars. This list, put together by vehicle rental firm Hertz, includes some of the most spectacularly scenic parts of the continent, which also happen to be chock-full with chargers. If you’re still trying to book your summer holiday, then perhaps you might be inspired to embark on an EV road trip to France, Italy or even Yorkshire!

As always, we have our interview feature, guest columnist and much, much more waiting for you inside.

Shell targets 100,000 public EV chargers by 2030

The energy giant revealed that 11,000 of these will be rapid chargers at locations including charging hubs, forecourts, supermarkets and other destinations. This means that 90% of all UK drivers will be within a 10-minute drive of a Shell rapid charger. The remaining new chargers in the updated target will be on-street charge points integrated into street infrastructure such as lampposts, which charge vehicles over longer periods.

In addition to the public charge points, Shell’s installation of EV chargers at private locations, such as homes and workplaces, will also continue to grow at pace. Shell estimates that by the end of 2030 they could have installed 500,000 such chargers.

David Bunch, Shell UK Country Chair, said: “Whether at home, at work or on the go, we want to give drivers charging options so that more can switch to an EV. Access to public charging needs to be made available to everyone, no matter where you live. This expansion is part of our planned investment of up to £25 billion in UK energy infrastructure over the next decade, 75% of which will be in low and zero carbon projects. This is a huge investment in the UK energy system of the future.”

Ford of Europe is one of 27 companies that have pledged to ensure all new cars and vans in Europe are zero emission from 2035.

The appeal to the European Union (EU) insists that removing fossil fuel burning vehicles from the road is imperative for Europe reaching its goal of net zero emissions by 2050, and to help avoid the worst impacts of climate change on people and the planet. This includes enacting legislation that establishes standards and a clear timeline for the industry and suppliers to follow, to ensure the transition to electric vehicles.

“At Ford of Europe, we believe that freedom of movement goes hand-in-hand with caring for our planet and each other,” said Stuart Rowley, chair, Ford of Europe. “That’s why we are targeting all Ford vehicles to be zero emission by 2035. To successfully achieve this, EU policymakers must also establish mandatory national targets for a seamless electric charging infrastructure that lives up to the growing demand for electric vehicles.”

Shell UK has confirmed plans to have 100,000 public electric vehicle charging points across the country by the end of the decade.

McLaren to take over Mercedes Formula E team for season nine

McLaren

series under its own name from 2022.

Last year, Mercedes announced it would quit Formula E – in which it is the reigning champion – to focus on road car development. It says expansion into the street circuit single-seater series “not only reflects McLaren’s commitment to EV motorsport but the aim to accelerate McLaren Racing’s sustainability journey and reach a new, more diverse global audience.”

Cycling UK to launch £8 million e-bike project across England

This investment will enable Cycling UK to launch ‘Cycling made e-asy’, an innovative new pilot programme focusing on electric cycles, making them freely available for people who would not normally consider cycling.

The initiative is being launched in five places across England, starting with greater Manchester. Supported by an expert consortium of industry partners, Cycling UK will be providing free loans, lasting up to three months, of electric cycles giving local communities the opportunity to get around by e-cycle. E-cycles will be made available at hubs in each pilot location with branches of Evans Cycles, local community spaces, selected workplaces and education settings being used to roll out the scheme.

Cycling UK is set to offer free e-cycle loans across pilot areas in England as part of an £8 million investment from the Department for Transport.

has announced it is to acquire the Mercedes-EQ Formula E team and enter the electric race

Sales of used electric cars reach record high in first quarter of the year

It has been a record start to 2022 for the UK’s used electric car market as sales more than doubled in the first quarter of the year.

The figures, published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), revealed a rise from 6,625 to 14,586 in used BEV transactions in the first three months of the year, an increase of 120.2%. Plug in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) also changed hands in greater numbers than the year before rising by 35.3% to 14,433, and 28.8% to 35,007 units respectively.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “Electric car sales are energising the market, with zero emission vehicles starting to filter through in larger numbers to consumers looking forward to driving the latest and greenest vehicles. Although there is some way to go before we see the recent growth in new EVs replicated in the used market, a buoyant new car market will be vital to help drive fleet renewal which is essential to the delivery of carbon savings.”

Tesla opens Supercharger network to non-Tesla drivers

Tesla has opened its Supercharger network to other car brands as part of a pilot scheme across the UK.

As part of the new scheme, Tesla has opened 15 Supercharger stations, with 158 charge points, to non-Tesla drivers in the UK. The sites are located at Aberystwyth, Adderstone, Aviemore, Banbury, Birmingham St Andrews, Cardiff, Dundee, Flint, Folkestone Eurotunnel, Grays, Manchester Trafford Centre, Thetford, Trumpington, Uxbridge and Wokingham.

The chargers will work with any electric car that features a combined charging system (CCS) port. Pricing for Non-Tesla drivers is set at 60p per kWh,

however a monthly subscription at £10.99 is also available.

Tesla has more than 30,000 Superchargers worldwide, making it the largest electric vehicle charging network in the world. The non-Tesla Supercharger pilot scheme is also live across Europe, in countries including France, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Austria.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Polestar has made its first financial investment as a company, investing in extreme fast charging battery technology firm StoreDot.

Driving electric and hybrid cars is changing driver behaviour for the better, with EV drivers incurring fewer speeding offences in comparison to ICE cars and vans, according to DMN Logistics.

Peugeot is supplying 25 e-2008s to Furniture Village as the furniture retailer makes a transition to a fully electric fleet.

The new electric vehicle charging hub will contain Alpitronic ultra-fast 300KW DC chargers capable of charging 32 EVs at any one time. Maximising the locational benefits of the NEC Campus, the hub will be accessed via a new entrance just off junction 6 of the M42 and close to the M6 and Birmingham airport.

To meet increasing demand, an existing car park will accommodate the hub’s remaining 150 bays for 7KW charging, to be used by NEC Birmingham customers during their time at the venue.

Scottish adventurer Chris Ramsey will tackle the world’s first fully electric journey from the North Pole to the South Pole with the help of Nissan’s fullyelectric Ariya e-4ORCE.

Everrati and Hilton & Moss have formed a new partnership to produce an electrified reimagining of the MercedesBenz W113 SL ‘Pagoda’ model.

NEC and The EV Network to build one of Europe’s largest EV hubs

The NEC Group and The EV Network have been given planning approval to build one of Europe’s biggest charging hubs in the West Midlands.

TEAGUE: JOEL FORWARD CHARGING

Since he founded community charging app Co-Charger back in 2019, Joel Teague has seen his project grow into one of the biggest charging networks in the UK. In this interview, he details the ‘lightbulb’ moment that inspired him to create the business, what he hopes to achieve in the next few years, and he shares his thoughts on what 2030 might look like from an EV perspective.

My background is as a contract programmer project manager working in lots of industries including automotive and marketing and few other things. One of my postings was at the Met Office and some of that was working with climate scientists and nothing quite hit you between the eyes as hard as people who just give it straight to you with data. That made me realise the scale of the problem that we’re facing with climate change and also with air quality, which is the bit we don’t talk about as much.

My car history is pretty awful. I ran a lot of cars with big engines, and I was soon realising I can’t be doing this. A neighbour of mine got himself a Renault Zoe and he convinced me to get one, and I did. When it arrived, it came with a note saying ‘your home charger will be another six weeks’ which was great! So I had a problem, and the answer was going back to that neighbour who lived about a mile away, using his charger and sticking a fiver through his door. That made me think about what I would have done without that? I looked into it and found that it’s about half of us that can’t have a home charger, so that’s where the idea came from. Three years later and Co-Charger is equivalent to the third biggest charging network in the UK.

What is your background and what is the story behind Co-Charger?

What is the company’s mission statement?

To reduce climate change and increase sustainability worldwide which sounds like quite a big ambition, but that’s always been the goal. We’re doing this in the UK first, but the idea of Co-Charger was always for this to be global. We’ve deliberately made it so that it’ll go overseas really easily. We’re now looking into getting the right partnering and talking to the right governments to make this happen internationally, so that’s a big focus for us. We want to enable everybody to switch to an electric vehicle and all we’re doing is finding new ways to do that and expanding it globally.

What have been the most significant milestones for the company so far?

We’ve done this on very little money, so getting the right investors and the right board, the right friends together to get Co-Charger built was the first one.

The next milestone was when we realised that people are actually running their cars using this, it’s no longer an idea. It’s no longer a concept. It’s actually a thing. That’s massive because up until then, you’re thinking ‘thank goodness, people are willing to take a punt on something that might not work’ but it turns out it does work and people do use it.

We also measure ourselves in terms of registered hosts compared to public chargepoints, and one day we realised that we went past Tesla, and at the start of May we went past BP. You can imagine how satisfying that was. That was really big. We also used the Ethex ethical investment platform last year and we got in just under half a million that helped us accelerate and that’s a big part of how we’ve done this.

What is next on the Co-Charger ‘to-do’ list?

We’re going out to investment again so that we can fund walking through some of the doors that have swung open for us and they include full fleet support. If you’ve got a fleet of 1000 vans, the chances are only 300 of those drivers can have charge points, so obviously they’re the first 300 that get an electric van - and then you have 700 problems. What we do is take the post codes of those 700 and send them back a list of the ones to give vans to next because they can charge it at their neighbours and the ones who have got a host set up nearby. With the state of the market at the moment, we can probably provide more hosts

faster than you can get the vans. We’ll never get to all 700, but if we can reduce that problem to 200 for nothing, then you can throw whatever you have to at the last 200. That’s the fleet offering.

Likewise, we’re doing small businesses. What we’re saying is that you put in just a domestic charger for your staff and your customers, and if you want to monetize it you can. But as soon as you close your office, that’s the community charger. Stick it on Co-Charger and that’s seven people in that row of terraces that can switch to an EV. They can have one night a week each to charge their car, and the business makes money back on the charger.

The third is communal parking. There’s a private mode, where you can set up a private community of chargees. If you’re in a block of 20 flats with shared parking, instead of spending humongous amounts of money putting in a charger with loads of back office systems and payment and that sort of thing, just install one domestic charger and use Co-Charger to share it amongst the people in all those flats. We’re also partnering up to take Co-Charger abroad. It won’t be this year, but we’re gearing up to do it next year.

I think the best research I’ve seen says we’re coming up on about 50% of people would like a plug on their next car, that includes plug-in hybrids, but I think the main point is that customer demand is so far ahead of automotive expectation. Demand has doubled every year, which means at this rate we’re following Norway. There’s an adoption curve and we’re in the middle of that bell curve at the moment. By 2025, we will be left with the laggards.

People are saying half of all sales will be electric by 2025. I think it will be a lot sooner than that because the Chinese are coming. When you look at what they’re bringing, you’re going to be able to buy a very fast, very comfortable self-driving electric luxury car for 30 grand, and you’ll be able to run it for less than you’re currently spending on your seven-year-old ordinary car.

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Has the UK reached a turning point in its transition over to electric vehicles?

I’ll give them a B. There’s an awful lot of really good work going on, and that’s credit to the government in that they’ve let other people guide it. They set up the EV Energy Taskforce and the that has tapped into really good expertise like the Renewable Energy Association, and it’s been listened to on those recommendations. The paper that was launched about two months ago now is ambitious and it’s what we asked for in terms of reliability, accessibility, quantity, and they’re starting to really think about use cases.

I think they’ve missed some really big open goals. One of them is this obsession of putting card payment on all chargers over certain kilowatts. That’s just going to do so much damage because it makes anything below 50 kilowatts completely unviable. You’re just going to see them disappear. I think that will get changed pretty quickly.

The main one, my soapbox of the entire year, is what’s going to be known as the ‘Share First’ strategy. You’re going to see #ShareFirst everywhere. All of the papers that we’ve seen are about how are we going to plug the gap with public infrastructure? And the answer is you’re not. You can’t build half a million public chargers in a few years. It’s just not going to happen. People won’t buy EVs just because of public chargers. They’re

not going to switch to an EV because once a week they can drive around and hope to find an available, working, affordable public charger and then stay with the car to avoid a fine for overstaying. They’re just not going to do it. In order for that person to make the leap, they need a convenient, dependable, affordable charging option. That means I want to be able to book it, plug it in, go to bed and not pay much. Community charging

ticks most of those boxes, so what we’re saying to the government is to share first - encourage and incentivize the sharing of private charge points. If you do that, then you can get tens of thousands of extra charging points available in neighbourhoods that are bookable, reliable and affordable, and they can do that for the cost of some communications campaigns and perhaps a grant for sharing.

What is your opinion on the recent government commitments to EV charging infrastructure and is it going far enough?

EV perspective?

By 2030 it will be very unusual for anybody to want an engine in anything new. Even used it will be a bit like smoking. Why have you got that? If I’ve got a sportsman bet with my colleagues that by 2025, most new cars will be Chinese full BEVs. I think that’s the way it’s going. If you look at what’s coming from the likes of NIO, why is anyone going to buy anything else? I don’t think people appreciate how fast it’s happening. Next year, most people are going to be buying an electric car and by 2025 it’s going to be about 10% who don’t.

What is the best thing about electric vehicles?

It depends on the context. Mainly that the driving experience is just that good. Even the cheapest electric car is outrageously good fun to drive. It makes you drive like a teenager again. Even in the Renault Zoe you can be silly. I wrote off my first set of electric car tyres in a year. You never get bored of it. If you’re first at the set of lights, you’re going to floor it. It’s hilarious, with no effort and no noise. The more serious answer is that it’s also nice to know that you’re not bringing around the end of civilization when you’re driving, which is an added bonus.

QUESTIONS QUICKFIRE

Current EV?

Tesla Model 3.

Dream EV?

I’d love to convert an Aston Martin DB9 Volante to electric.

Dream road trip?

I’d love to go all the way down to the bottom of Italy in a convertible electric car.

Best thing about working in the EV industry?

All the people are great. There are so many positive, intelligent, ethically minded good people that want to collaborate.

What will the end of the decade look like from an

THE BATTLE IN BERLIN

Last month saw the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship return to the iconic Tempelhof Airport in Berlin for a double-header filled with action and drama. Charlie Atkinson reports.

ROUND 7

Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport is a staple of the Formula E calendar, with the venue hosting six races in the COVID-stricken Season 6, and back in May, all 22 drivers returned to the airfield once again for Round 7 and 8 of the Championship.

The double-header in Germany marked the halfway point of the season, with Mercedes EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne leading the drivers’ standings heading into the weekend, with DS Techeetah’s Jean-Éric Vergne and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans just behind following a consistent run of form for the pair.

However, ROKiT Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara reignited his Championship bid after he secured his first ever pole position in Formula E, beating off stiff competition from Mahindra’s Alex Sims in the duels – a result even ROKiT Venturi team principal, Jérôme D’Ambrosio, was surprised with.

In the race, Mortara’s risky Attack Mode strategy paid off, saving both of his extra power boosts for the last minute, enabling him to maintain his position at the front of the grid. Despite late onslaughts from Jean-Éric Vergne, Mortara held firm to claim his second win of the season, capping off a perfect day for the Swiss-Italian-French driver.

Commenting on his victory, Mortara said: “I think we can be very happy about how we executed the race today. It was amazing to take my first pole postion in qualifying, especially after coming close to it quite a few times this season.

“Coming off the back of two DNFs, it was important to have a good result this weekend and I hope we can be strong again tomorrow.”

ROUND 8

Mortara continued to flourish in Berlin as, on the Sunday, he ran fastest in FP1 before claiming his

second Formula E pole position in as many days. Racing on a reverse layout of the circuit for Round 8, Mortara had over a tenth on Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns early through the decisive lap and continued to build on his lead, to claim his backto-back poles over the weekend.

Having ended a five-year wait for his first pole position on the Saturday before doing the same the very next day, it appeared that this weekend was made for Mortara, but reigning champion Nyck De Vries of Mercedes EQ had other plans.

On the very first corner of the opening lap, De Vries flew up the inside of Envision’s Robin Fri-

FORMULA E

jns and Mortara to take the lead of the race, and from this point on, the Dutchman would never look back.

As the grid battled with the soaring temperatures, De Vries kept his cool and cantered to victory, finishing 2.5s ahead of Mortara who claimed another podium finish, along with fellow championship rival Stoffel Vandoorne.

It was redemption for De Vries, who, after winning the first race of the season, has struggled throughout much of this campaign. Speaking after the race, De Vries set out his intention to carry this momentum through the rest of the season.

“We’ve had a bit of a difficult ride through the past four races and struggled to execute a result. I don’t think on each occasion there was much wrong but there was just something little missing,” said an emotional de Vries, moments before taking to the top step of the podium at Tempelhof.

“Everything was there but it just didn’t work out. It just starts to build up. People score points and you begin to lose momentum. To come back and turn it around now was very important. I hate losing - it eats me, especially when you know there’s nothing wrong. I don’t think it’s the right time to think about points. Things change around so quickly. We’ve just got to keep our heads down and make sure the coin falls our way. It’s very good to get a good result in but we definitely have to try and keep the momentum from now on.”

With everything to play for as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship enters the second half of the season, it is Mercedes EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne that leads the drivers’ standings on 111 points, with Edoardo Mortara catapulting himself right back into contention, with two pole positions, a fastest lap, a race win and a second placed finish lifting him to second in the table. DS Techeetah’s Jean-Éric Vergne slips down to third in the table.

The teams’ standings sees Mercedes EQ build on its considerable lead, with ROKiT Venturi Racing and DS Techeetah up against it for the rest of the season.

UP NEXT

Formula E will race in Jakarta for the very first time when the season resumes on 4th June for Round 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

NEWS FROM THE WEEKEND

The Governing Mayor of Berlin, Franziska Giffey, has confirmed that the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will continue to be held at Berlin Tempelhof Airport for the next two years.

McLaren Racing has confirmed it will compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from next season,

following its acquisition of the MercedesEQ Formula E Team.

Avalanche Andretti Formula E has announced that it will join forces with Porsche from the start of Season 9. Porsche will provide the powertrain and other support services for Avalanche Andretti under a long-term agreement.

EVERYTHING WE KNOW ABOUT THE ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE

Rolls-Royce’s very first electric car is just around the corner, with the fully electric ‘Spectre’ scheduled for release next year. In this feature, we break down everything we already know about the manufacturer’s first EV.

THE NAME

The world had waited patiently for the very first fully electric Rolls Royce, and after more than a decade since the luxury manufacturer teased us with the Phantom-based 102EX concept, the first electric Rolls, named Spectre, was finally unveiled.

“This name perfectly matches the extraordinary Rolls-Royce that we are announcing,” RollsRoyce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer, Torsten Müller-Ötvös, said when he made the historic announcement in September last year. “A motor car that makes its presence felt before disappearing into a world inaccessible to all but the very few.

“Spectre is a name given to otherworldly beings synonymous with great power and apparition;

creatures of an alternative realm that make their presence felt through fleeting manifestation. A spectre forces the world to pause. It dominates the space it occupies. Then, as quickly as it appears, it dissipates, leaving a wake of exhilaration, energy, and intrigue.”

DESIGN

Although the pictures that have been released do not give too many details away, the silhouette of the Spectre is at least reminiscent of the Phantombased 102EX concept and is quintessentially Rolls-Royce in design.

In creating a design for Spectre, a “generously proportioned, highly emotional body style” was selected, with an all-aluminium spaceframe architecture. The Spectre will also have a wheel

size of 23-inches, making it the first coupé equipped with wheels of that size since 1926.

Whilst Müller-Ötvös insists that the Spectre is around 25% ready at this stage, he did confirm earlier this year that “what you basically see is what you will later get.” This means the Spectre will be “fastback orientated” with its coupé styling. Unfortunately, specific details of the cars design have been masked by the camouflage printing on the test models.

WINTER TESTING

In March this year, the Rolls-Royce Spectre concluded its winter testing programme, just 55km from the Arctic Circle. Temperatures at the bespoke facility used by the marque, located in Arjeplog, Sweden, dropped to -26 degrees

THE ROLLS-ROYCE SPECTRE WILL COMPLETE NEARLY TWO MILLION KILOMETRES ACROSS ITS ENTIRE TESTING PROGRAMME

centigrade and were further cooled to -40 degrees centigrade.

Engineers performed a series of very basic tests in extreme conditions to ensure that each system is operational and functions at a basic level in a cold weather environment, such as noise, vibration and harshness tests.

The variables that affect this range from the materials selected for major hardware components to the density of the door rubbers, bushing compounds, fastening materials and even properties of bonding agents. The performance of these variables can change considerably when subjected to extreme temperatures, potentially impacting the efficiency of the motor car’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling systems.

Rolls-Royce’s testing programme featured an additional component known as ‘de-escalated time’, which enables high levels of accuracy and control using Spectre’s chassis control systems, powertrain management and electronics control.

By driving on low traction surfaces such as snow and ice and wilfully destabilising Spectre, the engineers can create dynamic circumstances at low speeds that would ordinarily occur at high speeds. This can be reviewed and guided in situ and in slow motion, in doing so parametrising and finessing cold-weather vehicle performance in areas such as handling, controllability, stability, predictability and the ‘waftability’ that RollsRoyce looks to create.

De-escalated time enables engineers to create unparalleled detail in the motor car’s response, in doing so schooling Spectre to think, behave and communicate like a true Rolls-Royce.

TECH

According to the manufacturer, Spectre is the most connected Rolls-Royce ever and each component within it is more intelligent than in any previous car. It features 141,200 sender-receiver relations and has more than 1,000 functions with more than 25,000 sub functions. By comparison, Phantom has 51,000 sender-receiver relations, 456 functions and 647 sub functions.

The intelligence of Spectre’s electronic and electric powertrain architecture enables a free and direct exchange of detailed information between these 1,000+ functions with no centralised processing. This has required engineers to increase the length of cabling from around 2 kilometres in existing Rolls-Royce products to 7 kilometres in Spectre, and to write more than 25 times more algorithms. A dedicated control can be created for each set of functions which enables unprecedented levels of detail and refinement, allowing for what RollsRoyce chassis specialists are already calling “Rolls-Royce in high definition.”

SPIRIT OF ECSTASY

Rolls-Royce has also reimagined its iconic Spirit of Ecstasy figurine to grace the bonnet of its new all-electric car.

The changes to the stance of the figurine have both practical and stylistic benefits, with the earliest Spectre prototypes having a drag coefficient (cd) of just 0.26, making it the most aerodynamic Rolls-Royce ever created. The figure is expected to improve during the product’s exhaustive testing protocols undertaken in 2022.

Torsten Müller-Ötvös said: “The Spirit of Ecstasy is the most famous and desirable automotive mascot in the world. More than just a symbol, she

is the embodiment of our brand, and a constant source of inspiration and pride for the marque and its clients.

“Like our brand, she has always moved with the times while staying true to her nature and character. In her new form she is more streamlined and graceful than ever before – the perfect emblem for the most aerodynamic RollsRoyce ever created, and for gracing the prow of our bold electric future.”

RELEASE DATE

With the winter testing phase completed, Spectre will continue its global testing programme. The Electric Super Coupé still has to complete nearly two million kilometres before the marque’s engineers will consider this undertaking complete prior to first customer deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2023.

BIGGER PICTURE

The Rolls-Royce Spectre marks the beginning of a new era of electrification for the luxury manufacturer, with the brand confirming that all RR products will be fully electric by the end of the decade.

Müller-Ötvös added: “With this new product we set out our credentials for the full electrification of our entire product portfolio by 2030. By then, Rolls-Royce will no longer be in the business of producing or selling any internal combustion engine products.

“Spectre is the living fulfilment of Charles Rolls’ Prophecy. My Promise, made on behalf of RollsRoyce Motor Cars, is kept. Now we begin a remarkable undertaking. I am proud that we will continue to propel the world’s most progressive and influential women and men into a brilliant, electrified future.”

ROLLSROYCE HAS REDESIGNED ITS CLASSIC ‘SPIRIT OF ECSTASY’ FIGURINE FOR ITS FIRST ELECTRIC CAR

WORLD E-BIKE SERIES:

OFF THE STREETS AND INTO THE HILLS

The first race of the 2022 UCI E-MTB XC World Cup season got underway back in April, with the Championship returning to its home of Monaco.

The WES World E-Bike Series was created in 2019 to organise and promote the first international electric-only bike competition, and after being disrupted by the pandemic, the series got back up and running this year, staging the opening round of the series in the hills of Monaco.

What is WES?

The series is prestigious, having been recognized as the first-ever UCI E-Mountain Bike CrossCountry World Cup back in 2020. Now, E-races

provide eligible points to access the UCI World Championship, allowing riders to fight for the coveted rainbow jersey.

E-Cross-Country (E-XC) is WES core discipline, although WES Events may also feature E-Gravity races, City-track competitions as well as Amateur Rides with the pros, called Ride WES.

The WES World E-Bike Series prides itself on bringing together the world’s best riders to face a new challenge across the most technical trails at the most spectacular venues, all with the aim of bringing the world of e-bikes closer to people.

DAY ONE: Monaco

The typical sunshine and clear blue skies of Monaco were nowhere to be seen when the first round of the season got underway, with riders having to contend with heavy rain and on a challenging, slippery track. Unsurprisingly, the chaotic conditions resulted in a number of crashes, forcing a number of competitors to retire and to save their hopes for the following day.

The morning’s Qualirace saw the first-ever Pole Position Powered by Raspini awarded in the two categories to teammates Justine Tonso and Jérôme Gilloux (Lapierre) with a lap time of 8:29.18 and 7:20.41 respectively.

SERIES

Starting first in the Women’s field in her debut in the series, Tonso managed to maintain the lead for the entire race. Appearing in her first World Cup, Estelle Charles (Specialized) had a brilliant start and a good race pace, being second for the first three laps but started slowing down while teammate Sofia Wiedenroth was improving. The German, who got the double on this course in 2021, engaged in an exciting battle with Nathalie Schneitter (Trek) and they eventually finished second and third behind an impressive Tonso.

Competing in her rainbow jersey, Nicole Göldi (Trek) struggled to adapt to her first WES race, finishing fourth overall as she struggled to stay with the group in the last couple of laps.

In the Men’s, Reigning World Champion and 2021 World Cup Winner, Jérôme Gilloux set his wellknown pace already on the first lap, handling a 10-second gap ahead of Hugo Pigeon (Scott), on his return to the Monaco Round, and his teammate Emeric Ienzer.

Gilloux went on to claim his first win of the season on his home track in style, and the two fellow Frenchmen completed the podium, with Pigeon improving his 2021 performance on this course (3rd and 4th place), and Ienzer challenging himself in the UCI E-MTB XC World Cup for the first time.

DAY TWO: Monaco

In the Women’s race, Justine Tonso took the Holeshot and her first double with an impressive win, despite it being the first race weekend on this track for her. Reigning World Champion Nicole Göldi (Trek) clinched her first podium of the season with a strong 3rd place right behind another Swiss from Trek, Nathalie Schneitter.

Estelle Charles and Sofia Wiedenroth (Specialized) closed the weekend in fourth and fifth place after an interesting battle with Schneitter and Göldi, just missing out on the top three.

The Men’s competition saw reigning Champ Gilloux secure his second outstanding win of the weekend in front of his home crowd, beating off stiff competition from Hugo Pigeon (Scott), Loïc Noël (Specialized) and Joris Ryf (Bergstrom).

After Round One, the leader’s Jersey for the overall standings went to Justine Tonso and Jérôme Gilloux with 50 points each in their respective categories. Their great shoots Lapierre Overvolt to the top of the Teams Standings with a 100-point full score.

It was once again the extraordinary Tonso and Gilloux that secured a time of 9:06.93 on lap 3 and 7:34.84 on lap 1 respectively to claim the first Magneti Marelli Checkstar Power Lap of the season, which is awarded to the fastest riders setting the best lap time in Race 2.

GILLOUX AND TONSO AWARDED WITH THE MAGNETI MARELLI CHECKSTAR POWER LAP

TAYCAN THE IN 2022: IS IT STILL AS GOOD?

PORSCHE

Ever since the Porsche Taycan was unveiled in 2019, it was seen as one of the standout EVs around. But as the industry has evolved, and with more and more exciting models being released, does the Taycan still class as one of the best EVs around?

PORSCHE TAYCAN

Over the past few years, Porsche has revealed a number of different variants to the Taycan, with the Cross Turismo, GTS and 4S models all now part of the manufacturer’s electric offering.

Whilst these higher-end electric models can reach up to almost £140,000, Porsche’s entry-level model – simply named the Porsche Taycan – is available from “just” £70,690. It is far from cheap, but it is also far from your average EV. With all that in mind, does the Porsche Taycan justify its pricetag in 2022?

HOW IT LOOKS

The Taycan has pure Porsche DNA running right through it, with influences from other models, such as the Panamera, plain to see. However, as is the case with most car manufacturers and their electric cars, Porsche has included a few subtle differences in the Taycan’s design.

At the rear of the car, there is the traditional EV light bar that stretches all the way along the back end. There are also a couple of fake air vents at the side, but other than that, Porsche has created a car that can fit seamlessly into a lineup of some of its best-looking models.

This entry level model features 19” standard wheels which can be upgraded to 20”, and there are other beautiful details such as the 4-point LED headlights. Even the colour, which is officially known as ‘frozen berry’ works well. The Porsche Taycan is quite simply a very good-looking car.

That colour does come at an added cost, however, as does pretty much every other detail on this car. Including VAT, this model starts from just over £72,000 but with all the optional extras, the onthe-road price comes in at £86,500.

These extras range from electric folding mirrors which are £200, the black trim on the windows are another £250, the colour is an extra £750 and even the matrix LED headlights will set you back over £2,000.

ON THE INSIDE

The interior of the Taycan is an absolute dream. There are more extras included on the test version of the car, such as the blackberry leather seats, the sound system and the parking assist. As standard, you will still receive a 16.8-inch curved display and the centre console with Direct Touch Control.

It also features a multi-function sports steering wheel and the fabric roof lining which gives the car the premium feeling you would expect from a car of this calibre. In terms of tech, you have two USB-C ports and wireless charging for your phone, which can connect with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and even the standard audio setup comes with 10 different speakers all around the car.

Despite the sporty nature of the car, it still offers a great sense of practicality with 407L of boot capacity and 84 litres at the front.

ON THE ROAD

The Taycan is a full-blooded Porsche and offers you everything that you would expect from any other Porsche model. That includes lightningfast acceleration, which in the Taycan’s case, is represented by a 0-62mph time of 5.2 seconds. That might not sounds overly fast – the Tesla Model 3 beats that time by 2 seconds, for example – but the low driving position, the amplified noise inside the car, and the self-awareness of knowing you’re driving such a good looking car, makes that time feel much, much faster.

The power is achieved through a standard 79kW battery, which on this model, has been enhanced to 93kW with the Performance Battery Plus option, which will set you back just over £4,000. That extra boost gives you 380hp and 357 NM torque to play with, and that does certainly put a smile on your face.

Sure, some cars might be slightly quicker, have much more tech inside or have bigger ranges, but there is something truly unique about the Taycan. ”

“

CRAIG EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY

The power also comes in tandem with great stability and balance. Perfectly tuned, the Taycan effortlessly glides along snaking country roads, pushing itself further into the tarmac with every dip of the throttle for extra grip, making you feel as though you are truly glued to the road.

As this is a fully electric vehicle, however, it is not simply about power, but also about range. The entry level Taycan offers a WLTP combined range of 301 miles and charging capabilities of up to 270kW, meaning you’ll be able to charge from 5 to 80% in about 20 minutes.

The beauty of the Taycan is that it offers a perfect blend of playfulness and practicality. It is a joyous experience being behind the wheel of this car, one you will never get bored of, and thankfully it offers a big enough range to be able to drive it in a way a Porsche was designed to be driven, whilst also

having enough juice in the battery to go about your daily business.

When it comes to driving this car, Porsche has got it spot on.

FINAL VERDICT

For years now, the Porsche Taycan has been synonymous with the best that the electric vehicle industry has to offer. It’s a super-fast, gorgeous looking EV, manufactured by one of the biggest, most prestigious automotive companies in the world.

The industry has moved on, however. There are a number of amazing new models coming to the market, and there are many more set to come, all of which will drive the EV movement further forward.

And yet, despite all the progress that has been made, the Porsche Taycan, which has only received a few minor tweaks for this 2022 version, still occupies a spot in the EV industry’s top drawer.

Sure, some cars might be slightly quicker, have much more tech inside or have bigger ranges, but there is something truly unique about the Taycan. Its design is unrivalled amongst all other electric vehicles, and the driving experience is second to none. The range is still at the top end of the market, and the fast-charging capabilities means it is fit for the new wave of EV chargers.

It might cost a pretty penny, but if there is ever an electric vehicle that could justify such a hefty fee, it is the truly amazing Porsche Taycan.

WHO’S GOING ELECTRIC AND WHEN?

The automotive industry is heading towards an electric future, with the majority of manufacturers outlining specific strategies to ditch ICE vehicles and roll out a number of new and exciting electric models. But who is leading the race and who is lagging behind?

BRANDS GOING ELECTRIC

BRANDS GOING

ASTON MARTIN

Whilst the Gaydon-based manufacturer has yet to unveil any fully electric vehicles, Aston Martin has entered its electrification era, with its first plug-in hybrid supercar, the highly anticipated ‘Valhalla’ to be available from early 2024.

FORD

Ford has made regular updates to its electrification strategy, with 40% of its sales being all-electric by 2030 being its most recent goal. In March 2022, it also pledged that it is ‘targeting zero emissions for all vehicle sales in Europe and carbon neutrality across its European footprint of facilities, logistics and suppliers by 2035.’

It is also investing $22 billion in electrification through 2025 as part of its plan to lead electrification in areas of strength. The company is electrifying its most iconic products – the Mustang, F-150 and Transit – with many more to come in the years ahead.

Ford is also working with other automakers where it sees opportunities in markets it does not have scale. It has invested $500 million in electric vehicle startup Rivian, and will use Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive architecture to develop another all-electric vehicle for the European market beginning in 2023.

Ford, GM, and Stellantis, also known as the Detroit Big Three, have also announced a joint goal for electric vehicles to achieve 40% to 50% of their sales in the US by 2030.

AUDI

With a number of impressive EV models already released, such as the Audi e-tron and Q4 e-tron, Audi has got the ball rolling with its electrification plans in some style. But the Ingolstadt manufacturer isn’t done there. Audi’s goal is to offer more than 30 electrified cars by 2025, with 20 being full BEVs. Looking further ahead, it also plans to stop production of combustion engine vehicles by 2033.

By 2026, Aston Martin says all new product lines will have an electrified powertrain option, with a target for its core portfolio to be fully electrified by the end of the decade.

25 BRANDS GOING ELECTRIC

BMW

2022 is an important year for BMW’s EV ambitions as it added the all-new i4 and iX to its lineup of zero-emission vehicles. As the brand approaches the middle of the decade, it hopes to have delivered around two million fully electric vehicles to customers, accounting for between 15-25% of sales. BMW has also said that by 2023 it will offer a BEV in every relevant segment, and will deliver 10 million BEVs over the next ten years.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to move its entire product portfolio to electric vehicles (EVs) by 2030, to be supported by a £34bn investment and plans to run eight gigafactories for battery

production. By 2022, Mercedes-Benz will have battery electric vehicles in all segments the company serves.

From 2025 onwards, all newly launched vehicle architectures will

TOYOTA

Toyota’s Beyond Zero (BZ) strategy outlines the Japanese manufacturer’s ambitions to produce 30 battery-electric vehicles by the end of the decade, with the aim selling more than 5.5 million electrified vehicles around the

be electric-only and customers will be able to choose an all-electric alternative for every model the company makes. To facilitate this shift, Mercedes-Benz is unveiling a comprehensive plan which

includes significantly accelerating R&D. In total, investments into battery electric vehicles between 2022 and 2030 will amount to over €40 billion.

The MINI brand will also go all-electric from 2030, as will Rolls-Royce, with the luxury manufacturer set to release its very first electric car soon (which you can read about on page 13).

BMW’S IX SUV WILL BE RELEASED LATER THIS YEAR

world annually, including more than 1 million zero-emission vehicles (battery electric and fuel cell electric vehicles).

TOYOTA’S BZ4X WILL MARK THE START OF A GLOBAL EV MOVEMENT FOR THE JAPANESE BRAND

BRANDS GOING ELECTRIC

HYUNDAI-KIA

With the Ioniq 5 and the EV6, Hyundai and Kia have debatably released two of the most highly regarded EVs on the market today, which bodes well for the aims of achieving a 7% global market share in electric cars by mid-decade.

In order to achieve these goals, Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) has revealed E-GMP, a new platform that’ll form the foundations of its next generation of electric cars. That platform, it says, will see 11 of 23 EVs on sale by 2025.’

Kia had announced plans to launch seven new electric vehicles by 2027, but it has since revised that statement to unveiling a range of EVs to 14 models within the same time period. As part of this plan, the brand says it will release two new electric vehicles every year between 2023 and 2027.

JAGUAR LAND ROVER

Since the launch of the critically acclaimed I-Pace, JLR has not revisited the electric vehicle market, but it has committed to becoming a fully electric brand from as early as 2025. With that in mind, we should be seeing details for new, electric Jaguar’s in no time at all.

Land Rover is also taking steps towards an electric future, with six new all-electric 4x4s due in the next five years.

NISSAN

As part of its Ambition 2030 strategy, Nissan intends for half of all sales globally, including those of Infiniti, to be electrified by the end of the decade, led by adoption in Europe. By 2026, the manufacturer will have committed 2 trillion yen (c.£12.4bn) with a lineup of 20 vehicles with electric powertrains.

By 2030, Nissan will offer 23 electrified models, including 15 new EVs. It also aims to launch EVs with its proprietary all-solid-state batteries (ASSB) by fiscal year 2028 to contribute to the fullscale democratization of EVs.

VOLKSWAGEN

As one of the largest automotive groups in the world, Volkswagen is also planning to invest the most amount of money out of any car brand or group. It plans to pump £76 billion into new technology over the next four years, as it bids to make a quarter of all its sales batteryelectric by the end of 2026.

The Group’s ‘Accelerate’ strategy also aims to increase the proportion of unit sales accounted for by purely electric vehicles to at least 70 percent in Europe and to more than 50 percent in North America and China by 2030. In 2030, nine out of 14 Volkswagen models will be purely electric vehicles. The last purely combustion-driven platform will be developed

in 2026. After that, only electric vehicles will be developed.

Along with Seat, Volkswagen will also invest 10 billion euros for the construction of the first Gigafactory in Spain. The figure represents the single largest industrial investment in Spain’s history, with construction of the Gigafactory to begin in the first quarter of 2023, with production scheduled for 2026.

The Gigafactory will have an annual production capacity of 40 GWh, supplying the total volume of cells to Martorell and Pamplona. It will employ more than 3,000 people by 2030 and occupy an area of 200 hectares.

VOLKSWAGEN WILL INVEST £76 BILLION FOR THE PRODUCTION OF EVS OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS

BRANDS GOING ELECTRIC LOTUS

In our last issue, we detailed Lotus’ latest electric venture, as the Norwichbased manufacturer pulled the covers off the world’s first electric hyperSUV, the Eletre, earlier this year.

THE LOTUS ELETRE WILL BE THE ‘WORLD’S FIRST’ ELECTRIC HYPER-SUV

The Eletre, which is scheduled to come later this year, will be followed by an electric four-door coupe (2023), a smaller SUV (2025) and an all-electric sports car (2026). Lotus also has the end of combustion engine products in sight, with the Emire set to be the brands final petrol-powered car.

MAZDA

Mazda is set to add three additional pure EVs to its lineup by 2025 as part of its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 strategy. This electrification blueprint will also see every new Mazda featuring some degree of electrification by the end of the decade and a quarter will be full BEVs.

RENAULT

Having been one of the first manufacturers to spearhead the EV movement with the ZOE, Renault is now planning to introduce ten new electric vehicles by 2025. Looking towards the end of the decade, the manufacturer is planning to have 90% of its models electrified by 2030 and carbon neutrality in Europe by 2040.

HONDA

Japanese-brand Honda has committed £31 billion to electrify its range of vehicles, as well as announcing a series of new EVs, two electric sports cars and for production of combustion engine vehicles to be halted by 2040.

STELLANTIS

Automotive giant Stellantis, which represents 16 brands including Fiat, Peugeot and Vauxhall, has put its foot down on its electrification offensive with an expansive target of 70% of its sales to be ‘low-emissions vehicles (LEV)’ by 2030, compared with 14% today.

The group will aim to reach carbon net zero by 2038, achieving a 50% reduction by 2030. As well as this, the brand is setting the target of 100% of sales in Europe and 50% of sales in the United States to be battery electric vehicles by the end of this decade.

To achieve this, Stellantis will have an offering of more than 75 BEVs and global annual BEV sales of five million vehicles by 2030. It will also launch a specific U.S. product offensive of more than 25 all-new BEVs, as Stellantis looks to double net revenues to $300 billion by 2030.

The group has also set its sights on reaching global BEV sales of five million units in 2030, reaching 100% of passenger car BEV sales mix in Europe and 50% passenger cars and light-duty trucks in the United States.

VOLVO

Separate to its electric division Polestar, Volvo has committed to making half of its sales electric by 2025, making the Swedish brand one of the slowest on this list to make the switch over to electric.

EV ROAD TRIPS

TOP TEN EUROPEAN EV ROAD TRIPS

Fancy hitting the road with you EV? Vehicle rental firm Hertz has compiled a list of the best European road trips you can embark on.

Whether the sun is shining, or the sky is pouring, there are some incredible road trips in Europe to be had. From the romance of Italy, the rolling hills of England or the fairy-tale whimsicalness of Germany, it’s time to rent an electric vehicle and embark on road trip.

This list breaks down some of the best journeys you can enjoy in your electric vehicle, based on scenery, things to do, and the number of EV chargepoints you can find along the way!

EV ROAD TRIPS

There are 19 EV chargers on this route, including near York Cold War Bunker, Mount Grace Priory and Pickering Castle.

1.ENGLISH HERITAGE TOUR – YORKSHIRE

Fancy exploring England’s largest county? Spanning 3,669,510 acres, Yorkshire is filled with rolling hills, areas of natural beauty, charming towns and villages, and so much more. Visit eight English Heritage sites across Yorkshire on this astounding road trip that is steeped in history.

Visit the historic walled city of York, where your electric vehicle will fit right in thanks to the local council’s clean air initiative which covers public transport and EV charging points in an attempt to reduce air pollution. As you head east, marvel at gothic ruins by the sea at Whitby Abbey and explore one of the UK’s most beautiful and scenic national parks – the Yorkshire Moors.

2.

FAIRY TALE ROAD

Follow the 600km (372 miles) route from Hanau to Bremen, and soak up the part of the world where fairy-tale magic is still celebrated. Follow in the footsteps of the Brothers Grimm, whose fairy-tale stories have been told around the globe for decades (albeit not exactly in the same way).

With stunning scenery through each passing town, you can expect to see dramatic castles, areas of natural beauty, UNESCO heritage sites (Kellerwald-Edersee Nature Park is stunning), medieval towns plucked straight from a story book, museums and so much more.

There are more than 90 EV chargers along the Fairy Tale Road, including points at Hanau, Kassel and Bremen.

Start in the Grimm Brothers’ birthplace of Hanau and travel to Kassel. Be sure to visit Grimm World Kassel to see the original Children’s and Household Tales – now known as Grimm’s Fairy Tales. And for more fairy tale adventures, the 14th-century Sababurg Castle is said to be the home of Sleeping Beauty.

EV ROAD TRIPS 30

THE GRAND TOUR OF SWITZERLAND

A sight around every corner is awaiting on this road trip. Europe is packed with EV charging points and this journey in Switzerland is hailed as the “world’s first road trip for electric vehicles.”

Travel 1,600km (994 miles), see 22 glistening lakes, buzzing cities, five impressive alpine passes, amazing cities like Geneva, 12 UNESCO World

Heritage Sites and so much more including the Matterhorn in Zermatt (the peak on the Toblerone package!) and the sixth-century Abbey of Saint Maurice.

You can complete the whole route, or take shorter routes: Basel to Neuchatel, Neuchatel to Bern, Bern to Zurich, Zurich to Appenzell. There is a dense network of charging stations which ensures easy driving.

There are more than 300 EV chargers on the Grand Tour, including plenty of points at Basel, Zurich and Zermatt.

There are 122 EV chargers along the Alps.

3.4.

FRENCH ALPS

Starting/finishing in Lyon, visitors can enjoy the history and gastronomy that the city is renowned for before driving through the Alps to enjoy France’s spectacular mountains. Witness history at Lyon’s Musée des Beaux Arts, with a stunning array of paintings and sculptures, and then set off for a spectacular snowy adventure.

Explore the picture-perfect delights of Annecy, particularly the clear waters of its lake. Then, make sure you join the throng of tourists at the fortress of La Bastille at Grenoble. Enjoy a break and a bite to eat at Place Jean-Marcellin before returning to Lyon. Unmissable.

31 EV ROAD TRIPS

5.There are 138 EV chargers on this route.

CÔTE D’AZUR

A road trip allowing you to live the high life on the French Riviera as you travel from Cannes to Monaco, enjoying the most glamourous section of France’s coastline. Opulence is in abundance along the Côte d’Azur. Shop till you drop along La Croisette in Cannes and then have a very different adventure following Picasso’s Trail in Antibes.

Culture vultures will enjoy perusing Nice’s Musée Marc Chagall, dedicated to the modernist artist, and then it’s on to Monaco, where you can wind up on a memorable road trip with a tour of the Palais du Prince – if the owner isn’t in.

There are 334 EV chargers on this route.

EMILIA ROMAGNA – ITALY

Essentially a pilgrimage for any foodie, this trip starts and ends in Bologna, and explores the region that is home to many of Italy’s most famous and recognisable gastronomic exports. The markets and food shops of Bologna are a feast for the senses, and when you’re full, work it off by climbing Asinelli Tower and admire the terracotta-tiled roofs of the city.

Parma is an essential stop to sample parmesan cheese and ham. It’s not all about food, though. Be sure to stop off at Carpi and enjoy the historic Piazza dei Martiri, or the 14th-century Cathedral of Modena, before heading back to Bologna.

There are 596 EV chargers around northern Italy and the lakes.

NORTHERN ITALY AND THE LAKES

Starting off by visiting two of Italy’s most famous cities, this road trip then takes you to some of northern Italy’s stunning lakes, offering the perfect balance of culture and relaxation.

There’s a whole host of fascinating monuments to discover around Turin’s Piazza Castello square, making it very Insta-worthy indeed.

Similarly, admire the 14th-century Milan Cathedral, once beloved of Napoleon.

Once you’ve been through Monza, home of F1 racing, it’s time to take a pause and take in the magic of Lake Como in the Lombardy region, and the lesser-known Lake Iseo near Bergamo.

ROME AND THE AMALFI COAST

Beginning with exploring Rome with all of the history and culture that it has to offer, this road trip then travels southbound on along the Amalfi coast, with stops for pizza in Naples and history in Pompei.

There are 469 EV chargers around Rome and the Amalfi Coast.

Where do you start in Rome? The Colosseum is still inspiring to this day. It’s a fair drive then to Naples and Pompei, with tons of history to enjoy. Salerno is a great place to reflect on an unforgettable journey, particularly if you visit Castello di Arechi.

33 EV ROAD TRIPS

TOUR OF THE NETHERLANDS

Starting and finishing in the capital of Amsterdam, after you have explored the canals and cafes of the Netherland’s most populous city, head south towards the port city of Rotterdam via The Hague. Highlights of this stint are Ridderzaal, the Hall of Knights in The Hague, as well as the Kinderdijk Windmills and the Oude Haven (Old Harbour) in Rotterdam.

The road trip then continues southwards to admire Zeeland’s Dikes, which have been described as one of the seven wonders of the modern world,

before heading inland to Eindhoven. With a variety of parks and museums, this is the perfect place to unwind and learn more about the rich history of the Netherlands. On the return leg to Amsterdam, the final stopping point is Utrecht, with the charming city being home to the incredible De Haar Castle and making the perfect stop before finishing your journey back where it began.

CHOCOLATE AND CASTLES

Starting in Ghent’s famous centre, this route takes you through Belgium’s historic cities, allowing you plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the culture or simply indulge in the world-famous chocolate that is crafted in the country.

After leaving Belgium, Luxembourg is the perfect place to continue your journey. Often overlooked in favour of its larger neighbours, this surprisingly diverse country is full of beautiful landscapes and picturesque castles. The UNESCO World Heritage Old Quarter of Luxembourg City is the perfect end point for your road trip as you wander through the city’s ancient fortifications.

There are 652 EV Chargers along this route.

There are 2,559 EV Chargers on this route.

VOLT FROM THE BLUE

With government goals in place for the end of the decade, 2035, 2040 and 2050, the roadmap for decarbonization and electrification is clear, but Volta Trucks has created its own timeline, as it looks to transform the industry of innercity deliveries to make city centre streets safer, healthier and more pleasant for all.

“Volta Trucks was set up by our founder in 2019 following a realisation of a number of facts that go back to the launch of the Tesla Model 3 in 2016,” explained Duncan Forrester, chief communications officer of Volta Trucks. “At that point he looked around and realised that Tesla had taken hundreds of thousands of orders and passenger cars were becoming electric and yet, in the commercial vehicle space, there was nothing really going on.

“What he also realised is that if you look at last mile logistics and vehicles travelling around in city centres, that’s really the source of most of the air quality problems that people experience in city centres. Also, that a battery electric vehicle had the range to deliver what was needed for a last mile inner city urban logistic vehicle, but that if he completely redesigned that vehicle without the legacy of an internal combustion engine but with the compact electric drivetrain that was now available, you could completely redesign that vehicle from the ground up.”

Three years after the launch, Volta Trucks is gearing up to release its flagship ‘Volta Zero’, the

world’s first purpose-built full-electric 16-tonne vehicle. From its zero-emission powertrain to its wealth of safety features, which include a central seating position and glass house-style cab design, the Volta Zero has so far proved popular with prospective customers.

Speaking on the Everything EV Podcast, Forrester said: “To date, it has delivered us around about 6000 pre-orders, which has got a value of about €1.3 billion of all pre-order value. Parallel to that, our engineering teams’ started work on the development of the real vehicle and that work started in January 2021. In the tail end of 2021, we showed the final design of the vehicle and that then lead into the development of 25 road going prototype vehicles that are now built and are doing all of the testing that you would normally expect.”

He added: “In my own experience, having worked on many, many vehicle projects before in many different manufacturers, the normal timeline of development of a vehicle from first design through to the first production vehicle is somewhere between five and seven years. As for us, that will be about 24 months, which is unheard of in this

industry, but it really gives us sort of an indication of the sorts of pace that we’re working at.”

The future is certainly bright for Volta Trucks, and whilst the company has its sights firmly set on making immediate changes, its plan for the future is also crystal clear, as Forrester explained.

“From what we know today we will have a portfolio of four fully electric vehicles operating in numerous city centres around Europe, US and by that time probably Asia as well,” he said. “What we will be doing is making an enormous positive contribution to society. Our city centres will be so safer because trucks will be operating around those streets and not having the detrimental effect on pedestrians and cyclists around them. Air quality will have been improved enormously because of the removal of diesel engine vehicles from the streets.”

Scan the QR code for the full episode:

The future may be electric, but for Volta Trucks, the time for change is now.

Duncan Forrester, chief communications officer of Volta Trucks, details the journey of this fully electric commercial vehicle company and outlines Volta’s vision for decarbonizing logistics all over the world.

The pivotal role of home charging

in the EV infrastructure of tomorrow

Jordan Brompton, co-founder and CMO of myenergi, discusses the accelerating transition to electrification and explains why home charging will play such a pivotal role in the national EV infrastructure of tomorrow.

According to the latest insight from EV mapping service Zap-Map, 1,213 new public chargepoints were installed across the UK in April.

Yet another record-breaking month, this brings the total number of chargepoints to an impressive 31,507 devices spanning 19,707 locations nationwide.

Of this total, more than 18% (5,751 devices) are classed as either rapid or ultra-rapid, providing speeds of up to 100kW and offering up to 70 miles of charge in as little as 15 minutes. The rise of ultra-rapid devices alone has shown hugely impressive growth, with installation rates rising by more than 74% in the past 12 months.

The continued growth of the public EV charging network means that there are now almost four times more charging points than petrol stations in the UK, with installation rates continuing to increase at pace. Indeed, over the past few months alone, Gridserve has opened yet another state-of-the-art electric forecourt, while ABB E-mobility and Shell have entered a global framework agreement (GFA) to accelerate the uptake of alternatively-fuelled vehicles and help support Shell’s ambition of operating 500,000 charging points globally by 2025.

While many were concerned that ongoing global supply shortages would dampen driver demand for electric vehicles, this is seemingly far from the case. Indeed, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), registrations of new battery-electric cars (BEV) in April increased by more than 40% year-onyear, while sales of diesel and petrol car sales decreased by 50% and 23% respectively.

Furthermore, according to Sky News, the sales of used BEVs also reached record rates in Q1 2022, with some 14,586 pre-owned vehicles changing hands (more than double compared to the same period in 2021).

But while the transition to electrification is seemingly racing ahead, experts remain concerned that our national charging infrastructure is struggling to keep up. The Society of Motor Manufac -

turers

of the decade.

The Scottish Sun identify that a VW ID.3 could be charged for as little as £13.75 per month when using the correct home tariff - compared to a monthly cost of £91.75 for public charging and an average cost of £258 for a diesel car.

Charging at home is not only cost-effective, but also hugely convenient. While it requires an upfront investment, regulation set to come into force later this summer will see smart EV charging points installed at every new build property nationwide. In addition, the newly-announced EV chargepoint grant for landlords will overcome the previous challenges of installing charging devices at rented properties – and who should pay for it.

So, just as we reach a turning point in EV sales and adoption, have we discovered yet another impediment? While many drivers are coming around to the real-world viability of EVs, it seems as though we now have another challenge on our hands. If the EV car parc is going to grow in line with predictions, there is an urgent and pressing need to ensure that we have sufficient charge point capacity.

But what can we do to achieve this? In my opinion, we need further private and public investment in the development of charging networks that are robust and easy to use. More importantly still, we need to encourage EV owners to charge their vehicles at home – whenever possible – to free-up charge point capacity.

EASING PRESSURE ON THE PUBLIC NETWORK

While not everyone is fortunate enough to have use of a driveway, insight from the Energy Savings Trust suggests that more than 80% of all EV charging still takes place at home. Although the cost of living crisis is making people think twice about the cost effectiveness of EVs, findings from

At myenergi, our smart EV charger is helping to overcome the challenge of charging point accessibility. zappi is a future-proofed solution that, alongside operating as a mains-connected charging device, seamlessly integrates with household renewable energy generation technologies – like solar and small wind turbines. This means that zappi users can harness self-generated energy to charge their EV for free – a compelling way to achieve zero-emission travel. If a household doesn’t yet have renewable generation, or if the sun isn’t shining, zappi is able to automatically optimise around your energy tariff to enable charging at both cheaper and greener times from the grid.

Our message is simple. Further investment in publicly-accessible charging points is critical. Not just an uptick in roll-out, but an overhaul and rapid increase in line with EV sales figures. At the same time, home charging should be seen as a simple and effective solution for those fortunate enough to have a driveway or garage.

Wherever possible, EV owners should be considering state-of-the-art smart chargers for their households. As a step further, zappi can offer net-zero charging options – a green, clean carbon-neutral solution for the ultimate peace of mind.

As the transition towards electrified mobility continues to accelerate at pace, myenergi is committed to operating at the forefront of the industry. Not just as a technological leader, but also as a supporter and enabler of EV adoption. The days of ICE-powered vehicles are numbered and we must all prepare for the technological shift now. Is the UK ready? Not yet, but the path is simple and the solutions are plentiful.

and Traders (SMMT) advises 2.3 million charging points will be needed in the UK by 2030 to keep up with predicted demand. This would mean installing 700 charge points every single day until the end

Our message is simple. Further investment in publicly-accessible charging points is critical. ”

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