evrt Africa 2023 shines the torch for electrification in transport
The Electric Vehicle Road Trip Africa (evrt Africa) is back and 2023 promises to be an epic and trailblazing journey through South Africa in a fleet of electric vehicles.
The road trip launches on Thursday 16th February in Johannesburg and touches down arrives in Cape Town on Saturday 25th February for the Grand Final at the E-Fest ELECTRIC which is colocated with the ABB Formula E-Prix.. Road Trippers can experience a jam packed adventure of a drive drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town via a range of towns and cities including Bloemfontein, Gariepdam, Port Elizabeth, and Knysna… That’s around 2,500 kilometres of driving electric , talk about showing of the range a EV can get these days!
Have you seen?
Smarter Mobility Africa summit 2022
A lot has changed since the launch of the evrt Africa in 2019. Back then there were only 2 electric vehicles available in South Africa, now a most brands have an electric vehicle or hybrid added to their product range, or plan to in the next 12 months. Outside of South Africa the world has really moved towards electrification of transport. Recent reports indicate a record breaking number of 6.6 million electric vehicle sales across the globe earlier this year. Increased EV options, cost of ownership benefits, performance of driving, and a wider and more serious awareness of the impact of climate change and air pollution are driving people to make the switch to electric.
The uptake of EVs has also seen a surge as a result of countries racing to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as part of their Confederation of the Parties (COP) commitments The recent COP27 in Egypt highlighted the need to reduce carbon emissions in transport.
Go Green Africa Torch
This road trip is all about encouraging the transition to electric vehicles and going green for a more sustainable approach for mobility. This year the evrt Africa will act as a vehicle for the GO GREEN AFRICA Torch which will be carried from Johannesburg all the way to the E-Fest ELECTRIC event taking place at the ABB Formula E Cape Town E-Prix (that’s the all-electric street racing event taking place in Green Point, Cape Town, South Africa).
Have you read?
All Systems Go For World Class Formula E Racing In Cape Town In 2023
The GO GREEN AFRICA Torch is about shining a light on the needs and opportunities to ‘go green’ in Africa, and will create an opportunity to engage towns and cities across the road trip to get behind the message of going electric, and the opportunity that Cape Town, South Africa, and Africa has in hosting the ABB FIA Formula E in Southern Africa for the first time! Organisations along the road trip will pledge their commitments to going green over the next 10 years, with a signing ceremony and celebration to enhance the energy and motivation needed to take strides towards being more sustainable and emitting less emissions.
Have read?
ABB’s Growth Journey Points Towards EV Charging Solutions
Group Director for Mobility at VUKA Group, Ben Pullen, comments: “It’s about inspiring the nation and the continent, encouraging organisations from across Africa to commit and make pledges towards going green over the next 10 years.”
The GO GREEN AFRICA Torch will be carried throughout the trip by different mayors, government members, celebrities and personalities of interest to champion efforts of going green in the transport sector.
But, that’s only one part of the evrt Africa, the Road Trippers will also be enjoying a range of activities along the 9 day trip. Listed below, but are definitely not limited to this list…
- Drag racing electric vehicles
- Visiting South Africa’s best cultural and tourism sites
- Regeneration Challenge
- Visits of renewable energy sites
- Visits of some of South Africa’s most exciting and important businesses
- Enjoying safari
- South Africa’s best hotels, food and drinks
All of this exciting adventure is packaged in evrt Africa 2023. But just before you make plans to map out your leave days, I have to share with you that this road trip is by invite only, the limited seats are for invited press & media, influencers, key government and private sector stakeholders who can amplify the message of going electric or who can influence decisions around going electric. From what I can see the evrt Africa is all about raising awareness, exciting the country, inspiring the continent behind a very important message of going electric, and of course… having lots of fun along the way!
evrt Africa 2023 in a flash…
- Over 2,500km
- Lots of interesting site visits
- Carrying the GO GREEN AFRICA Torch
- Grand Finale at E-Fest ELECTRIC
- Drag racing
- Regenerative braking
- 20+ vehicles
- 200+ road trippers
- 9 days
- 1 beautiful country – South Africa
