Mayor of London welcomes the Eco-Rally to the Capital

After the success of the inaugural Eco-Rally in 2007, Revolve, the organisers of this event, promise another spectacular day. The rally showcases some of the top ten best eco-vehicles according to the world’s automotive press.

Taking part are the most up-to-date green vehicles available to buy now or in the near future including the first four-seater electric cars available in Britain, the world's first serious electric sports car and the UK's first electric taxi.

This year’s Revolve Eco-Rally is not a race on the road but is a way for the auto industry and energy suppliers to show how practical the vehicles are to drive on a day to day basis and to inspire people to rethink their transport needs, as well as show everyone how they can cut their car’s carbon emissions without it costing the earth.

TV Presenter, Quentin Willson, will launch the rally from 08:00, at the famous Madeira Drive in Brighton on Monday 8th of June, departing from the sea front at 10:00 en-route to a pit-stop at Sainsbury's flagship eco store in Greenwich, from 11:30. The rally will be joined by more eco cars to the journey’s end at City Hall, London, where the convoy will be officially welcomed into the city by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson at 14:45.

The Mayor is a strong advocate of low carbon travel and his aim is to cut carbon emissions in London by 60 per cent by 2025.

The Mayor of London has said, “The Revolve Eco-Rally is a great way to promote the use of less polluting, low carbon transport which I am also championing in the capital. So I am delighted that for the first time, the 2009 Eco-Rally will draw to a triumphant close right outside London’s City Hall”.

The home of London’s Mayor, City Hall, is central to the day’s events, it will host the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LCVP) Conference, welcome back the Revolve Eco-Rally and later in the day the Mayor's chamber will be the venue for the What Car? Green Car Awards.

There will be familiar faces driving the cars including actor and writer Robert Llewellyn, motor-racing legend, John Surtees, Barron Bassam of Brighton, the House of Lords Chief Whip, Zac Goldsmith, environmentalist and a Conservative parliamentary candidate; and the ‘Queen of Green’, TV presenter Penny Poyzer, all will be demonstrating the capabilities of the eco-friendly vehicles.


The cars will be fuelled in a number of green ways, including hydrogen, bio-methanol/ethanol and renewable electricity courtesy of Southern Electric, all showing the versatility of the different environmentally friendly fuels.

Lord Mandelson is quoted recently saying, “The world’s car industry is at a turning point. In Britain, we need to be at the leading edge of the development of low carbon vehicles and green manufacturing. This offers a major business opportunity for us.”

Full details of the route and location can be viewed at eco-rally.org/2009_route