Team in world record electric car journey attempt
A BOSS at real estate company Colliers International has teamed up with a radio station and BMW in a Guinness World Record attempt in an electric car travelling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.
A team will attempt to set the fastest time – as well as the shortest charging time – in a three BMW i3s.
The team of nine will set of from Land’s End on Sunday (July 31) bidding to travel the 886 miles in under 24 hours with less than five-hours charge time.
Colliers are making the attempt alongside Smooth Radio and Rybrook BMW Warwick.
The route – which includes roads in the North West – has been carefully planned to allow for the maximum number of miles to be covered from each battery charge, with the team planning to use up to 14 public charging points along the route.
Simon Summberby-Bent, a director in Colliers International’s valuations team, instigated the charity initiative.
Following the death of his mother last November, after a 20-year battle with a brain tumour, Summberby-Bent was looking for a challenge that would allow him to continue his mother’s fundraising legacy and raise additional funds for The Royal Marsden Hospital Cancer Charity, who managed her treatment.
Summberby-Bent said: “I was inspired to look for a challenge to break a World Record by my son, who receives a Guinness Book of World Records each year as one of his Christmas stocking fillers.
“I have owned a BMW electric car since 2014, and am a big advocate for the environmental benefits and driving capabilities of these types of vehicles.
“I approached the Rybrook BMW dealership in Warwick, which I knew would be keen to get involved, as the challenge would be a great way to showcase the performance capabilities of their electric car range.
“But I didn’t stop there. Keen to maximise the fundraising potential of the challenge, I teamed up with Smooth Radio to support the initiative and drafted in breakfast show frontman, Nigel Freshman, to be a co-driver.
“We’re confident in the capabilities of the vehicles however there are many external factors to take into account along the way that could make completing this world record attempt more difficult.
“We have plotted an optimum route identifying charging points in convenient locations along the way, but we are at the mercy of public charging stations, so have had to find back-up charging points at each location in case any of the ‘optimum’ points are out of use or unattainable on the day for some reason. It’s not going to be easy but we’re up for the challenge.”
