Hertz has joined forces with GREENFLEET, a leading communication platform for decision-makers in the transport and fleet industries, as the official vehicle partner for its 2023 EV Rally. Hertz will provide electric vehicles (EVs) for the five-day event that goes across the five capital cities in the UK and Ireland.
The EV Rally aims to highlight the real-world capabilities of electric vehicles and track the progress being made with charging infrastructure in the UK. Hertz, which is investing to create one of the largest EV rental fleets in the world and is rapidly expanding its electric fleet across the UK, will provide four electric vehicles to the EV Rally Team and its media crew.
The company will also enter one of its own vehicles to enable staff, media, social media influencers and other stakeholders to share the experience of long-distance touring in an electric vehicle.
The five-day 2023 EV Rally sets teams the challenge of driving to all five capital cities in the UK and Ireland, starting in Cardiff on July 3 and ending the tour in Dublin on July 7.
Along the way it visits the key charging hubs, clean energy projects and landmarks along the 1,000-mile (1,600km) journey. The event is also intended to showcase a variety of services and technologies related to EVs including telematics, tyres and EV rentals.
Jason Devoto, PSI Ltd Managing Director, said: “We are delighted that Hertz has joined us as the official event car partner. The premium, long-range EVs provided to the event crews by Hertz will enable us to keep pace with the rally in comfort and safety.
“Together we will highlight that wanting to make greener transport choices isn’t just about diving headlong to electric vehicle ownership – it can also mean long and short-term rental, even if that is just to try one out before committing longer term.”
Jeff Adams, SVP European Operations and Global Remarketing, said: “Hertz is leading the car rental industry in electrification and we are aiming to make 25 per cent of our global fleet fully electric by the end of 2024.
“An event like the GREENFLEET EV Rally is an ideal platform to showcase our growing fleet of electric vehicles and demonstrate the ease with which they can cover long distances, especially with access to thousands of charging points via our energy partners.”
Back in January 2023, Hertz announced a European expansion to their successful North American partnership through which Hertz will make up to 25,000 electric vehicles available to Uber drivers in European capital cities by 2025. A wide range of EVs will be on offer, including vehicles from Tesla and Polestar.
In September 2022, the company also announced it would partner bp to accelerate electric vehicle charging in North America. Announcements like these show that Hertz is taking the transition to electric vehicles seriously and helping to promote zero emissions motoring.