On the 12 November, we hosted an electric vehicle showcase — organised by GreenFleet and in partnership with the Welsh government — that let members of the public test drive the latest range of EVs around Cardiff Bay.
As well as taking the vehicles for a spin, a free workshop was held on the exhibit floor that featured a panel of esteemed EV enthusiasts — among them were Chris and Julie Ramsey, who, in 2023, completed a 17,000-mile trip from the North Pole to the South Pole in an all-electric vehicle.
The panel sought to deepen visitors’ understanding of the positive environmental impact of EVs and was rounded off by Motability’s Jonathan Jenkins, EVA Cymru’s Paul Bevan, and Kevin Booker, a driver who holds the world record for longest single-charge journey in an EV (at 570 miles).
Ursula Perry, an events coordinator at GreenFleet, said: “These types of events are important because it’s all about raising awareness about sustainable transport.
“We find that people are moving from range anxiety to change anxiety and it’s just getting them used to the fact that change is a collaborative thing that we all need to do.”
Dotted around Techniquest’s front entrance were top-of-the-range EVs from garages across south Wales — BMWs and Teslas shared the floor with work vans and Maeving’s innovative EV motorbike range.
And it was the motorbikes that caught the eye of former Cardiff Blues rugby star Josh Navidi and Wales’ Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, who both stopped by to show their support for the industry and, of course, take the bikes for a lap around the Bay.
After parking his Maeving RM1 outside Techniquest, Irranca-Davies said: “Part of my role is ensuring that Wales plays a part in tackling climate change.
“Electric vehicles are part (but not all) of the solution, alongside fewer cars on our roads, and more of us using public transport, walking and cycling where we can.
“But for many, I recognise this isn’t always practical, particularly as a large part of our country is rural. This is why we need to see a rapid shift towards zero emission technologies in vehicles alongside ongoing investment in our public transport and active travel infrastructure.”
And as part of the motor show’s pledge to converting the general public to all-electric vehicles, a prize draw was held after the panel which saw lucky visitor Barbara leave with £250 and their own EV to drive for a week, courtesy of Voltric.