The co-founders of sustainable delivery company Green 2 will each drive an electric vehicle (EV) from one end of the British Isles to the other when they take part in the Great British EV Rally (GBEVR) next week.
Lee Sibley and Jason Atkins will participate in the 1,200 mile journey in a pair of Mercedes-Benz eVito vans. The vehicles are being provided by Rygor Commercials.
Green 2 Delivery is a brand new fully sustainable two-person delivery business, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to the fossil-fuel networks currently operated by others.
Lee said: “It’s important for us to start raising our profile as a company and what better way to do so than in this EV rally which will showcase the vehicles which are supporting our business model.”
The company’s mission is to be at the forefront of the green distribution solution for e-commerce and retailers and help to reduce the environmental impact of the current home delivery sector.
Green 2’s network has been created specifically to cater for current electric delivery vehicles allowing for a full UK mainland next day operation.
Strategically placed depots mean a more “localised” personal service along with dedicated charging stations incorporating solar and wind generation infrastructure.
The company provide expert supply chain solutions for retailers and brands that aid in getting their products to the end-user in a timely, sustainable and safe manner.
Lee remarked: “I hope that our participation in this event will show that electric vehicles work well. Sometimes you might experience problems with charging infrastructure, especially when it comes to the business sector, but our business model addresses this, and it is something we are proud of.
“I personally own an electric vehicle and have no issues. I feel the car side of the rally will be perfectly fine. Those in the vans may find it a bit harder due to having less range and spaces to park being smaller when charging, but overall, I don’t see an issue.”
The Great British EV Rally (GBEVR) is run by Greenfleet UK with the event providing a ‘demonstration’ of UK EV charging infrastructure, combined with clean and innovative vehicle technology.
Sponsored by Lex Autolease, the idea is to demonstrate the roles that EVs can play in UK fleets.
A number of companies are supporting the event including the likes of National Grid, Maxus, The AA, Drivetech, Karcher, Webfleet Solutions, BP Pulse, DPD, Paua, OVO Energy, Mitie, Gridserve and Swarco.
Lee is looking forward to participating in the event alongside likeminded professionals and businesses.
“The EV network is made up of a lovely bunch of people so it will be great to catch up and participate in conversations about the current state of affairs,” he adds. “Some of the sights we are seeing are fantastic so it will be a great experience.”
Lee and Jason will form part of a fleet of 50 electric cars and vans which will set off from the
Royal House, Castle & Gardens of Mey on Monday (4 July), before they swing by John O’Groats and embark on a five-day, 1200+ mile ‘e-Rally’.
Along the way, they will be taking in many of the beautiful landmarks across the UK, before the event finishes in Land’s End on Friday 8 July.
Leaving in a fanfare, the vehicles will split into two groups, with cars heading west, along the north coast, while the commercials head south, using the ‘Electric A9’, before they eyeball each other from each end of Loch Ness.
Co-drivers will accompany the drivers, and act as eNavigators, plotting the route, from charge point to charge point, and after overnight stops in Oban (cars) and Dundee (commercials), they will head further south, across the border to Cheadle and Leeds, respectively. Further details of the route can be found here.
“Making sure we get to specific charge points first will be key, but the actual driving, sight seeing, and showcasing of EVs along the route really will make our participation a pleasure rather than a chore,” remarks Lee.
Ultimately, the Green 2 Team want to show that the type of vehicles used by their business, can get from one end of the British Isles to the other, on electric.
“At Green 2 we are saying you can do this. However, it takes a lot of money, time and importantly infrastructure to get it correct for businesses. This may not be there for some of them, but it most definitely is for those that want to see it happen,” concludes Lee.
John Keogh, owner director at Rygor Commercials, said: “We are delighted to have been able to loan Lee and Jason a pair of Mercedes-Benz eVito vans for the Great British EV Rally (GBEVR). We’re proud to be able to support Green 2 Delivery in an event which really showcases the capabilities of electric vehicles. It is great to see Green 2 Delivery strive to be at the forefront of sustainability and environmentally friendly next day delivery solutions. Good luck to the guys!”
Assisting Team Green 2 along the way are two guys that know the UK fleet sector very well – Jamie Fretwell and James Venables from Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK.
James Venables, eConsultancy Manager at Mercedes-Benz Trucks UK, commented: “It’s fantastic to see forward-thinking operators like Green 2 drive an electric commercial vehicle the length and breadth of the country on zero emissions, and I’m personally excited to support Lee and Jason as a co-driver in the rally.
“We’re also delighted to be able to support all participants in the rally, with Vital EV Solutions using our zero-emission FUSO eCanter light truck to transport the mobile chargers which will be used on day three. This truck was the starting point of our zero-emission journey back in 2018, and we’re delighted to now offer UK operators with a range of zero-emission trucks like the Mercedes-Benz eActros and eEconic.”
