The Royal Automobile Club's new RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge reached 60 zero/low-emission vehicles – far exceeding expectations and establishing, probably, the largest event of its kind.
Being held for the first time this year, the RAC Brighton to London Future Car Challenge takes place on Saturday 6 November as a very public showcase for low-energy impact vehicles. Open to the latest electric, hybrid and low emission passenger cars, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles, awards will be presented in different categories for vehicles judged to have made the least energy impact during the 60-mile Brighton to London run.
 
As a measure of the importance of this inaugural event, entries have been received from the majority of the major car manufacturers, including BMW, Citroën, FIAT, Ford, MINI, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Renault, Skoda, Smart, Tata, Toyota, Vauxhall and Volkswagen. In many cases several different models have been entered.


Vauxhall's Ampera entry is an electric car fitted with a small 'range extender' petrol engine – unlike a hybrid vehicle; it doesn't drive the car directly but tops up the batteries on the move to extend the vehicle's range to a claimed 350 miles.
UK-based Liberty Electric Cars has entered the world's first pure electric 4x4 vehicle – the Liberty E-Range Range Rover. The Liberty E has a battery range of around 200 miles and is claimed to cover 0-60mph in around seven seconds.
Ford have entered their Transit Connect Electric and UK companies, Nicholson McLaren, Interserve and RLE International  have entered their all-electric conversions of the  Citroën Nemo van and Volkswagen Caddy Maxi and Zytek Automotive will participate with their all-electric Mercedes-Benz Vito Taxi.
Sports cars will be represented by entries from Tesla, well known for its high performance vehicles, plus privately entered Lotus Elise and MG-F both recently converted to electric drive.


Ben Cussons, Chairman of The Royal Automobile Club Motoring Committee, says: "We're extremely pleased with both the quantity and, importantly, the quality of the entries we've established. As well as entries from major manufacturers and specialist companies, a number of private owners will also take part – something we very much encourage. We are also receiving considerable support from many sponsors including, of course, the title sponsor RAC Motoring Services.

"We're confident this will be the largest, most public, showcase for low energy vehicles that has ever taken place in Europe and is therefore just as significant as The Royal Automobile Club’s world famous London to Brighton Veteran Car Run which takes place the following day."