The AA once again joins EV Rally to put Britain’s EV readiness to the test

• The AA is taking part in the five-day Greenfleet MYTHBUSTERS EV Rally 2026

• Two simultaneous rallies will feature electric cars, vans, trucks and trailers

• More than 2 million electric cars are now on UK roads, up 45% year-on-year

• “The next phase of electrification is about making sure vehicles, drivers and infrastructure are ready to work together.” - AA president

The AA puts electric vehicle readiness to the test

The AA is taking part in the Greenfleet MYTHBUSTERS EV Rally 2026, a five-day journey across Britain from Monday 7 September to Friday 11 September designed to put some of the biggest questions around electric vehicle readiness to the test.

For the first time, the event will feature two simultaneous rallies. One team will drive electric cars and vans, while another follows a dedicated Trucks & Trailers route, highlighting the growing role of electric commercial vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them.

Toyota electric cars to take part in UK EV rally

Toyota GB is supporting The AA by providing two all-electric models for the cars and vans route, the Toyota bZ4X Touring and Toyota C-HR+. During the rally, the car team will also visit Toyota's Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.

The AA team will bring together expertise from across its business, including DriveTech, SMR (Service, Maintenance and Repair), Fleet and Connected Car, alongside AA president Edmund King. Their combined experience will help examine the challenges and opportunities of electrification from a range of perspectives, including driver behaviour, vehicle maintenance, fleet operations, connected technology and roadside support.

 

Electric trucks and commercial vehicle charging

The AA will be represented on the Trucks & Trailers route by its Volvo EV recovery truck, which will be driven by The AA Recovery Patrol of the Year, Megan Tench. The truck which joined the fleet in 2024, was the first of its kind on UK roads.

As she takes on the route, she will provide a first-hand perspective on the practicalities of commercial electric transport and the infrastructure needed to support it.

Between them, the two rally teams will cover more than 1,850 miles over five days, with the cars and vans route travelling more than 1,000 miles and the Trucks & Trailers route covering around 850 miles.

Testing EV charging infrastructure and long-distance driving

The teams will visit locations including Exeter, Clevedon, Moreton-in-Marsh, Solihull, Stevenage, Wolverhampton, Llanberis Pass, Warrington, Leyland, Newcastle, Doncaster and Corby before finishing in Twickenham at Everything Electric Greater London.

Each stop will explore a different aspect of electric mobility, including charging infrastructure, battery recycling, fire safety, long-distance driving, electric trucks, commercial vans and how EVs perform in rural and mountainous areas.

More than 2 million EVs on UK roads

The rally comes as electric vehicle ownership continues to grow rapidly across the UK. Government figures published in August 2026 state that more than 2 million electric vehicles are now registered on UK roads¹, while more than one in four new cars sold are now electric. EV sales were also up 45% in July compared with the same month last year.

The continued growth of the electric vehicle fleet is putting greater focus on the practical requirements of operating EVs at scale, including reliable charging infrastructure, vehicle suitability, driver readiness, roadside support and the resilience of the wider transport network.

Supporting businesses and fleets

For businesses and fleet operators, the next stage of electrification is increasingly about how well vehicles, drivers and infrastructure work together in day-to-day operations. This year's rally will put those elements to the test across a range of vehicles, distances and driving conditions. The AA's 'test and scale' approach to EV adoption reflects this shift, using real-world experience to understand what works in practice before expanding deployment.

The addition of a dedicated Trucks & Trailers route also reflects the growing focus on electrifying commercial transport. The route will include visits to e-HGV charging infrastructure, exploring how the charging network is developing to meet the different operational requirements of commercial vehicles.

Finishing at Everything Electric

The five-day rally will conclude at Everything Electric Greater London at Twickenham Stadium on Friday 11 September, bringing the teams together with businesses, industry and drivers to share the real-world lessons from the week.

As Roadside Assistance Partner for the rally, The AA will provide support throughout the five days, led by Lee Morley, AA Patrol of the Year, while also gathering real-world insight into how drivers and vehicles interact with charging infrastructure and where challenges remain.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “The next phase of electrification is about making sure vehicles, drivers and infrastructure are ready to work together.

“The Greenfleet Mythbusters EV Rally gives us the opportunity to put that readiness to the test in real-world conditions, from passenger cars and vans through to trucks and trailers. The question is no longer simply whether an electric vehicle can complete a long journey, but whether the wider ecosystem can support electric transport reliably and at scale.

“With more than 2 million electric vehicles now registered on UK roads², the demands on charging infrastructure, drivers, businesses and roadside services are increasing. We want to use the rally to see where the system is working well, where challenges remain and what needs to happen as electrification becomes an increasingly important part of Britain's transport network.

“From charging hubs and battery recycling facilities to truck stops, mountain roads and long-distance journeys, we'll be seeing first-hand how the technology and infrastructure perform in a range of real-world conditions. Finishing at Everything Electric in Twickenham gives us an opportunity to bring those lessons together and share them with businesses and the wider industry.”

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¹ Department for Transport, Zero emission vehicle mandate review: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/zero-emission-vehicle-mandate-review

² Department for Transport, Review launched to shape pathway to reach zero emission driving by 2035: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-launched-to-shape-pathway-to-reach-zero-emission-driving-by-2035