EV-drivers from Europe driving to Glasgow with important message!

EV drivers from countries in Europe are planning to be driving to COP26 to bring an important message to Glasgow about electric driving.  ‘A shift to electric transport is essential to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reducing dangerous climate change, improving local air quality and reducing respiratory diseases in cities around the world. With the rapid improvements in EV technology and the new vehicles coming into the market over the coming months, it is entirely achievable’ A rapid shift to electric transport can be achieved through supportive policies in each country. For example, the market share for plug-in vehicles in Germany grew from 3% in 2019 to 13.5% in 2020 and the UK market went from 3.2% to 10.7% in the same period, as quoted by the Global EV Alliance (GEVA).

Message

This goal of this rally is to deliver a message, from EV drivers of the world to the COP 26, carried out in 100% electric vehicles to Glasgow, by multiple European grass roots associations, supported by other global associations through GEVA. For many months, and for some years, representing Electric Vehicles owners associations are meeting online. Our network of associations decided to take advantage of the COP 26 organization in Scotland to carry out in a spectacular manner (a convoy made of 1 vehicle per European country) a simple global message: all new cars and vans sold have a plug in by 2030 and that by 2035 all new cars and light duty vans being sold in these markets should be fully zero emission. This matches the COP Presidency and Routezero ambition for the world’s leading car markets.

Route 

European EV drivers are planning to drive their EVs from all corners of Europe joining UK drivers to arrive in Glasgow COP 26 in the week  before COP 26’s crucial meeting starts. We expect diverse drivers driving different cars from more than 20 countries in Europe among which Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark,  France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Slovenia, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden.

Agenda

  • The EU drivers will meet in Brussels on 28th October to take a message of support to the EU’s proposals for a green new deal and EV adoption by 2035.  The rally has been coordinated by FFAUVE – the French Association – so naturally there will be an event in Northern France on the afternoon of 28th October.
  • Once in the UK, the drivers will meet EV drivers from EVA England and EVA Scotland, as well as from the Irish EV Owners Association. The route through England will include events on October 29/30 with local community EV drivers from EV Groups and visits of innovative businesses in the UK.
  • In Scotland, EVA Scotland is also working with Falkirk Council and Forth Valley College to organise an EV event on Sunday 31st October  and a final event at the Alexander Clark innovation centre in Glasgow bringing GEVA’s message to the heart of COP.

 

Whether the continental drivers will be able to reach Glasgow will depend on the COVID situation and restrictions in place between continental countries and the UK at  the time of the event. The outdoor UK events will go ahead in the UK the weekend of 30/31 October however again final plans for any indoor events in Glasgow depend on the COVID restrictions and whether there are any changes to the COP 26 meeting in person plans.

Should you wish to conduct an interview or need more information, you can contact our communication team here: globalevalliance.com/contact.

We can put you in contact with a GEVA Global representative, or a local Representative, should you want to conduct an interview in a specific language.

 

Global EV Drivers’ Alliance Challenge to World Leaders

We, the undersigned electric vehicle drivers from around the world, are calling on leaders from the 26 countries represented in the Global EV Drivers’ Alliance to commit that 100% of sales of new light-duty vehicles will be battery electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030. We make this challenge as global leaders prepare for the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November 2021. 

Climate change is already having a devastating impact on our planet, causing glaciers to melt, sea levels to rise, harsher droughts and heat waves, and stronger tropical cyclones and hurricanes. This has led to significant loss of life, impacts on human health and environmental destruction which will only get worse in the coming years. We must take action now to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

Transportation accounts for 24% of global CO2 emissions, with road vehicles accounting for nearly 75% of that. We must shift from burning fossil fuels to vehicles running on clean, renewable electricity. This has never been more urgent than it is today.

We urge leaders to commit to 100% of new light-duty vehicles being powered by electricity by the end of this decade. Plug-in vehicles do not have a tailpipe and do not emit dangerous greenhouse gases, making them much healthier for our communities and our planet.

This target is entirely achievable. Automakers are investing now to rapidly shift to EVs. In fact, EVs have quickly gained more than 10% market share in many European countries and enjoy a 60% market share in Norway. Supportive policies, including purchase incentives and robust charging infrastructure, are necessary to help consumers switch to plug-in electric vehicles.

Our planet and its inhabitants will not survive if we do not take urgent, decisive action now, when we are gathered in Glasgow. We simply cannot wait. Commit to a plug on every light-duty vehicle by 2030.