Representatives of Electric Vehicle Drivers’ Associations (EVAs) from a range of European countries will be heading to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. This is to support the call for faster transport decarbonisation, globally, fuelled by renewable energy
The Association will also raise the awareness of the benefits of driving electric vehicles (EVs) for the environment and health, reducing carbon emissions and helping to improve air quality. Plus, they will promote the voice of electric vehicles driver associations working with the Global Electric Vehicle Drivers’ Alliance (GEVA).
Electric vehicle (EV) drivers will be calling for all new cars and light-duty vans sold in the 28 countries represented in the Global Electric Vehicle Drivers’ Alliance to have a plug by 2030, and to be fully zero emissions by 2035 at the latest.
Climate change is already having a devastating impact on our planet and has led to significant loss of life across the globe. Plus, it impacts human health and causes environmental destruction, which will only get worse in the coming years.
Transportation accounts directly for 24 percent of CO2 emissions from fuel combustion globally, with road vehicles accounting for nearly 75 percent. GEVA is calling for immediate action to shift from vehicles burning fossil fuels to vehicles running on clean renewable electricity.
To take this message to COP26, electric car drivers from Europe and the UK will be participating in the ‘Electric Road to COP26’. In England, the zero-emissions drivers will start their journey by charging up with 100 percent renewable electricity at GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourt in Essex.
Along the way, the group will be hosted by myenergi in Grimsby and take in the construction site of the new Britishvolt EV battery gigafactory in Northumberland. Once across the border, they will experience Scottish charging at Forth Valley College in Falkirk before ending up in Glasgow itself.
The Electric Road to COP26 is being organised by EVA England, EVA Scotland, GEVA and local EV groups (NEXUS). Octopus electric vehicles are providing electric cars for driving opportunities at some of the locations on the route. Planet Mark’s Zero Carbon Tour Bus will join Electric Road to COP26 in Glasgow.
Joel Levin, GEVA hair, said: “A shift to electric transport is essential to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce dangerous climate change, improve local air quality and people’s health in cities around the world. With the rapid improvements in EV technology and the new cars and vans coming into the market, it is entirely achievable.”
Ade Adepitan MBE, EVA England honorary member, added: “In my recent travels and when reporting on climate change, I’ve seen the growth of electric bikes, three-wheelers, cars, buses and vans around the world, and the opportunity to do much more. I call for COP26 to speed up the move to electric transport.”
Neil Swanson, Director, EVA Scotland, concluded: “EVA Scotland looks forward to welcoming delegates and drivers to COP26, which presents a unique opportunity to increase the uptake of electric vehicles globally.”
