Back to the future: The London to Brighton EV Rally turns five

Timed to coincide with Show Your Stripes Day — the international campaign that uses climate data to illustrate global warming — the rally also served a deeper purpose: putting climate awareness front and centre, without the lectures. Everywhere you looked, the now-iconic blue-to-red warming stripes were subtly woven into the event: on banners, screens, driver t-shirts, and interviews.

“These stripes aren’t just graphics,” said Bill Murray, co-organiser of the event. “They represent rising global temperatures. By building a rally around energy efficiency rather than speed, we’re showing that transport can be fun, visible, and part of the solution — not the problem.”

Five Years of Momentum

Back in 2021, the first London to Brighton EV Rally felt like an experiment. Just a few dozen vehicles made the trip that year — part protest, part celebration. But it struck a chord. Fast forward five years and the rally has become one of the UK’s best-loved low-carbon events, offering a unique blend of grassroots enthusiasm and big-name innovation.

The principle remains refreshingly simple: this isn’t a race. It’s an energy trial, just like the pioneering motor events of the early 1900s. Vehicles are judged not on speed or design, but on how little energy they consume getting from A to B. It’s about efficiency over ego — a rare thing in the automotive world.

This year’s entrants included everything from classic Minis retrofitted with electric motors to futuristic solar bubbles, plus a growing number of commercial entries. The rally kicked off with a dramatic BYD convoy crossing Westminster Bridge — a visual spectacle that turned heads and sparked conversations as it rolled silently past the Houses of Parliament.

Among the crowd favourites was the reborn Bond Bug, an angular orange relic from the 1970s, now fitted with an electric drivetrain. It not only stole hearts but won its category, proving that innovation doesn’t mean leaving heritage behind.

Test Drives, Not Test Speeches

Brighton’s seafront became a hive of activity. At the heart of the event was the Charge & Drive experience, offering the public a chance to test-drive over 400 electric vehicles in a no-pressure setting. First-time EV drivers took the wheel of models like the Ford Capri, BYD Dolphin Surf, and KIA EV3 GT-Line, often emerging wide-eyed with surprise at the instant torque and smooth handling.

“We’ve created a space where people can explore EVs without sales reps or complicated brochures,” said Harrison Hughes, the rally’s 22-year-old Event Director and co-founder. “It’s hands-on, human and joyful. This year we had older drivers discovering EVs weren’t as intimidating as they thought, and kids falling in love with the tech.”

Twelve major brands — including Mercedes, MINI, Hyundai, MG, Citroën and BMW — brought vehicles to showcase. Testers were guided by informed volunteers and showroom teams, all keen to spread enthusiasm without pressure.

Meanwhile, further down the promenade, Guinness World Record holder Kevin Booker undertook the Hankook Tyre Challenge, pushing a tyre from London to Brighton to highlight the crucial role of tyre choice in EV efficiency. The point was simple but powerful: every detail counts when it comes to sustainable transport.

“You can have the best battery and motor in the world,” said Kevin, “but if your tyres aren’t right, you’re wasting energy. This was a fun way to get that message out — and raise a few smiles.”

Winners That Tell a Story

The rally’s competitive edge may be low-key, but the results were meaningful. The most energy-efficient vehicles in each category were celebrated not for brute force, but for finesse. The standout results included:

• Bus – Higer Steed: 0.93 mi/kWh

• City Car – Microlino: 14.52 mi/kWh

• Motorbike – Maeving RM1S: 21.37 mi/kWh

• SUV – KIA EV3 GT-LINE: 6.24 mi/kWh

• Saloon – Hyundai Ioniq (2021): 8.60 mi/kWh

• Self-build – Bond Bug: 15.37 mi/kWh

• Van – Citroën e-Berlingo XL: 5.76 mi/kWh

The Microlino, a charming, retro-styled city EV, wowed the crowd with its exceptional performance, while the Maeving RM1S motorbike reaffirmed the potential of electric two-wheelers in urban travel.

“Seeing that Bond Bug win was such a moment,” said Hughes. “People think going electric means giving up character. That little orange wedge proved them wrong.”

A Climate-Conscious Celebration

This year’s integration with Show Your Stripes Day added weight to the rally without preaching. Developed by climate scientist Ed Hawkins, the climate stripes visually show temperature changes since the industrial era — a blue-to-red barcode of the Earth heating up.

“The stripes are like a silent protest,” said Murray. “They don’t shout. They don’t shame. But they make you think. That’s exactly what the rally tries to do — invite people in, make them feel something, and get them thinking differently.”

From families posing in front of striped backdrops to teachers bringing students for climate education, the event blended festivity and urgency in equal measure.

Afterparty and Afterthoughts

As the vehicles cooled on the tarmac and the crowds began to thin, rally participants and partners gathered at the Brighton i360 for the official afterparty. Drinks flowed, stories were swapped, and the setting sun over the sea seemed to echo the day’s theme — clean energy, shared journeys, and forward motion.

“The 2025 rally was a perfect mix of fun, education and community spirit,” said Murray. “Every year we grow, but we stay true to our roots — this is about driving the change, one kilowatt at a time.”

The Road Ahead

Plans for 2026 are already in motion. Organisers hint at expanded routes, the inclusion of hydrogen and hybrid entries, and deeper collaborations with schools and cities along the route. The core, however, will remain unchanged: people, innovation, and meaningful climate action.

“We never want to be just another car show,” said Hughes. “This rally respects history while driving the future. That’s what makes it special.”

In a world of clickbait headlines, polarised debates and top-down policies, the London to Brighton Electric Vehicle Rally stands out as something refreshingly grounded. It’s public, not corporate. It’s educational, not preachy. And it’s designed to bring people into the climate conversation in a way that’s hopeful — even joyful.

By putting real people behind the wheel, and energy efficiency front and centre, this rally proves that sustainable transport isn’t just a policy — it’s a public event.

And as EVs become the norm, rallies like this show us something more powerful: climate action can be celebratory.

Next stop: 20th June 2026