12.4.2012 EDF chosen to charge up EcoVelocity

The UK's largest green motor show, EcoVelocity, will be held from the 5th to the 13th May at London's ExCeL exhibition centre.

EDF Energy, the UK's largest producer of low carbon energy, has confirmed that they will act as headline sponsors for the event – they will be supplying the on-site recharge points that will be used for charging the numerous electric vehicles that will be attending.

EcoVelocity will be run alongside Grand Designs Live, and visitors will be able to attend both events with a single ticket – it will be a major event for those with an interest in either sustainable living or green transport, or both.

Returning for the second year, EcoVelocity will showcase a range of low carbon and alternatively powered vehicles, including full battery electric, range extended and plug-in hybrid vehicles along with lower CO2 emission petrol and diesel cars.

Visitors will be able to test drive any of a large number of cars on the 3.5 mile test route, providing a rare opportunity to test some of the most cutting edge and technologically advanced vehicles. On show and available for test drive will be the recently crowned European Car of the Year, the Vauxhall Ampera – the first 'range extended electric vehicle' to reach mass market production.

Kate Armitage, Electric Vehicle Manager at EDF Energy said: "We are proud to be returning as headline sponsor of this exciting event. This is a great opportunity for members of the public to see for themselves how far plug-in vehicle technology has progressed and to experience driving these cars for themselves."

EDF Energy, will demonstrate complete home and business recharging solutions using a variety of charging points and vehicles such as the MINI E, a vehicle being used as part of the Olympic Fleet and leased by EDF Energy into their own fleet over the past year.

Giles Brown, Event founder and Organiser of EcoVelocity, explained: "I'm delighted that EDF Energy is involved in the second year of EcoVelocity. Their experience in developing and installing recharging infrastructure is invaluable. Visitors will be interested to learn how easy and simple it is to recharge a plug-in vehicle and be amazed at the carbon savings that can be achieved."

Cars will be able to charge up using one of the 18 charging points installed at the ExCel centre which is part of the 2012 electric vehicle infrastructure legacy, supported by EDF Energy's technical recharging team.

At the heart of EcoVelocity for 2012 is the 'Main Theatre' where visitors can listen to a varied series of presentations and talks from the industry experts about the world of low carbon motoring, including vehicle production, the different technologies and how they operate in the real world. Each session will end with an open 'Q and A' session so visitors can get direct answers to their questions.

Newspress