Hay-on-Wye will serve as a checkpoint this week in an alphabetical electric vehicle (EV) rally event.

Y Gelli (Hay-on-Wye), will be the penultimate stop in the A-Z EV Rally 2024.

A fleet of 50 individual electric vehicles are this week competing in the event, which sees them travel more than 1,400 miles throughout England and Wales and checking-in at strategic locations in alphabetical order.

The five-day rally will drop in at Hay on Friday (July 5), before heading up to the ‘Zero Carbon’ Rhug Estate to finish off the alphabet.

The network of EV charging points across Powys is growing each year. Matt Perry, Powys County Council’s Chief Officer – Place explains: “Alongside a growing network of private EV charging points, Powys also benefits from the installation of charging facilities in 13 council owned carparks in key locations across the county.

“We continue to pursue investment opportunities to expand this network further, with another five locations soon to be added to the Powys EV infrastructure.

“We are often asked whether EV vehicles are a practical choice for such an expansive county, but our use of electric refuse lorries, road sweepers and fleet vehicles prove that this environmentally friendly mode of transport can definitely help us achieve our ambition to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2030.”

Colin Boyton, the event manager, said: “The rally route takes in many of the beautiful landmarks across the UK, but most importantly, showcases the charging infrastructure at the same time as well as demonstrating the capabilities of EVs.

“Planning the route to take in the vast expanse of mid-Wales shows just how wells these vehicles perform and how journeys can be planned with the growing network of EV charging points available for everyone to use.”

For more information about EV charging in Powys, please visit: https://en.powys.gov.uk/evcharging

For more information about the EV Rally, please visit: https://www.ev-rally.co.uk/