A charity has set a new world record on a trip from John O’Groats to Land’s End in a Tesla Model 3 EV.
Rather than trying to do the famous trip from one end of the UK to the other in as few hours as possible, the challenge was instead to do it with the fewest hours dedicated to EV charging.
Environmental charity Zero Carbon World was behind the attempt, enlisting the help of Formula E racing driver Alexander Sims and EV specialist David Pellow.
The last record for the fewest hours spent charging an EV on the trip was set in 2015, when three hours, 44 minutes and 33 minutes was spent plugged in.
However, the team managed to complete the 855-mile journey with just 1 hour, 31 minutes and 32 seconds dedicated to charging, along with 15 hours and 46 minutes of driving.
Speaking ahead of the attempt, Zero Carbon World Trustee, Dean Fielding, who also took part in the challenge, said: “Electric vehicles, charging capabilities and the charging infrastructure have come on in leaps and bounds over the past decade, and we want to bring attention to the fact that the UK is increasingly becoming EV-friendly and that making the switch to an EV is feasible, practical and enjoyable for both long and short journeys.”
The team used a Tesla Model 3, which was stock aside from some more aerodynamic 18-inch alloy wheels and tyres, and utilised both Tesla’s Supercharger network and Ionity’s 350kW rapid chargers.
(Picture credit: David Pellow)
