The Big Lemon London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally, sponsored by EDF, returned to Brighton on Saturday 25 June for a highly successful second year!
Following the phenomenal feedback of the inaugural event in September 2021, the second London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally took place on Saturday 25 June, and was a resounding success. Organised in partnership with electric bus company The Big Lemon and sponsored by EDF, Britain’s biggest generator of zero carbon electricity, the second annual event left Parliament Square shortly after 8am to cover the 59 miles to Brighton Beach. All participants stopped at Ifield College, Crawley for a breakfast and team photo before continuing to Brighton’s Palace Pier and the finish line on Madeira Drive.
Seventy different electric vehicles lined the seafront yesterday as the rally entries arrived on Madeira Drive. The event saw solar- powered cars, self-builds, e-bikes and even an electric plane following the route to the city. It is the second time the rally has been held, after last year’s event was called an “unprecedented success”.
Tom Druitt , one of the event organisers stated “The rally was a fantastic day and a huge success. Participants and spectators all had a great time and we enjoyed wonderful support from our sponsors EDF, JLC Group, the RAC, University of Brighton, Hendy Group, the Fully Charged Show and 3ti. We had a fabulous launch event in London on the banks of the Thames, and a brilliant welcome by Ifield Community College in Crawley where we had a pit-stop at half time. Madeira Drive hosted everything from solar car parking, solar cars, EDF’s renewable technologies and even a flyby from a Nebo Pipistrel electric plane – the only one in existence in the UK.
“The aim of the event is to demonstrate and celebrate the rapid development of electric vehicles and renewable energy technology and have a fun day in the process. We had some very interesting vehicles in our ‘self-build’ category, and the winners celebrated afterwards with a ceremony and after-party at Elm House, University of Brighton with awards for the most efficient vehicles in each class and for the most innovative and most sustainable designs. Winners included teams from the University of Brighton/JLC, Nebo Air, Brighton & Hove City Council, The Big Lemon and 3Ti solar car park specialists.”
As with last year the Rally recovery partner was the RAC, the only UK breakdown provider to offer van-mounted, lightweight emergency mobile charging systems for EVs. Their expert patrols helped several other entrants with their EV Boost. RAC’s All Wheels Up recovery system can be used to tow an EV safely with all four wheels off the ground.
JLC group, based in Hailsham, East Sussex were the main VIP sponsor of the event this year and profiled their new electric commercial vehicles along with the incredibly fun NoSmoke 1960s inspired convertible. JLC group have recently joined forces with University Brighton to produce vehicles together, designed and built in Sussex.
Categories for the rally included:
- E-Bikes
- E-Motorbikes
- City Cars
- Saloon Cars
- SUVs
- Vans
- Self-builds
- Minibuses
- Buses
- Trucks
- Electric Aeroplanes
We would like to thank all the event’s partners and sponsors for their support. Without their help this year’s event would not have been possible.
Our partners include: The Big Lemon CIC, EDF, JLC Group, RAC, Fully Charged, University of Brighton, Current PR, Hendy, 3ti and Drive Electric