Electric Renault to take on 2,000-mile Pod Point challenge

A RENAULT Zoe electric car is about to cover 2,000 miles up and down the country to prove that a linked and entirely functional network of electric charging points already exists.

The full-electric supermini will take on challenges, attempt to break records and join in for loads of festivities throughout the 17-day grand tour, all using public electric charging points.

What's more, Pod Point, the company behind the endeavour, will install more points wherever it thinks they're needed on its route around Great Britain.

The route will travel from London to John O'Groats and back down to Land's End, before returning to London. It's an epic round-trip that is set to generate a real buzz as it passes through 15 major cities on its travels.

On route, staff at Domino's Pizza in Swindon will be attempting a new world record for how many people that can be squeezed into the Zoe, while the public can enter the bizarrely-titled “guess how many pizzas are in the Twizy” game with a chance of winning a prize.

The team will also be stopping off at the Design Your Electric Car of the Future competition in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and staging a race between a speedboat and the Zoe across the River Severn.

In a statement Pod Point said: “This is not just another race from one end of the country to the other. This is a campaign with a purpose.

“Charging Electric Vehicles is not the same as refuelling, and is more akin to charging your mobile

phone – with continuous top-ups. Pod Point will show consumers that top-up charging is soon to

become a part of everyday lives, and won’t interrupt your daily routine.”

Pod Point allows drivers to hold just one access card but charge their cars at around 1,000 points nationwide regardless of who owns the point itself.

The company continued: “Pod Point will help create customised Pod Chains for electric vehicles, in order to make charging a part of everyday routine. This way you can top up your charge while at the gym, in the local supermarket or at a friend's house.”

By Press Association reporter