ROAD TO THE FINALS

THE EV THAT NEARLY MADE KICK-OFF

Red tape derails Red Dragon’s attempt to make an EV road trip to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

Most international football fans have stressed at the cost and logistics of reaching the finals of a major tournament but few have ever dared to tried to do it across two continents and in a family-sized electric car – until now.

In the run up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, a four-man team set off in a MG4 electric vehicle on a three-week, 5,000 mile journey through Europe and the Middle East in the hope of watching their Wales team kick-off against USA.

While the attempt was a chance to see their team in action there was also the central sustainability message of the trip that electric cars are viable alternatives to petrol and diesel, even in the most challenging circumstances.

The MG4 electric vehicle car - affectionally called Morris by the team - is capable of approximately 281 miles (451kilometres) on a single charge and can charge in just under nine hours from a standard home charger. With rapid charging, the car can go from 10% to 80% in just 35 minutes.

The team visited MG car dealerships throughout their trip, to not only plug into crucial charging facilities but also meet with other local, like-minded enthusiasts.

What they didn’t expect was that it was red-tape and not a lack of chargers would de-rail the trip.

Having reach reached the Jordanian capital of Amman in 16 days, the Welsh football supporters and electric car enthusiasts thought the six remaining days would be more than enough time to visit iconic sites such as Wadi Rum, Al Ula, and Hofuf as well as the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh. However, the team was stopped at the Saudi border with the car refused entry because it was right-hand drive.

“We knew it would be an issue,but thought it had been resolved. It hadn’t… we had been given incorrect information,” one team member posted on Twitter.

Having come-up just short after a stellar performance, Morris will now be sent back to the UK. Fortunately for the car’s drivers they were able to be sent onto Qatar in time for the match courtesy of the MG team in Jordan.

“Our love of football, a thirst for adventure and the desire to raise awareness of sustainable issues are all behind this exciting trip,” said driver Nick Smith while explaining the thinking behind this unique journey. “We’re passionate about the positive change that electric cars can bring. They’re an important part of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, decreasing CO2 emissions and improving the air quality of our towns and cities.”

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