9:02 am, May 21, 2018
NATIONAL motor retailer Lookers has launched one of the biggest charity drives in its history – the Lookers Electric Charge.
The carbon-neutral challenge is in aid of industry charity Ben and will see a relay of electric vehicles travel 2,000 miles to destinations including all 155 of the retailer’s franchised dealerships where a wide range of fundraising activities are planned, from carbon neutral days and green energy workshops to test drive events and golf days.
The initiative represents this year’s Industry Leader Challenge run by Ben, which is passed on every year by a business or organisation within the automotive industry to raise vital funds for the charity.
Lookers is also looking to go one step further in its commitment to the environment, with plans to adopt areas of woodland along the route. Carbon credits will also be purchased to ensure that the environmental target of completing the challenge carbon neutral is achieved.
As well promoting the fantastic work of Ben, which provides support for life to the people of the automotive industry and their family dependents, the Electric Charge will give Lookers the chance to promote the ever-expanding range of electric cars available in the market. In addition, the challenge will enable Lookers to take part in a number of timely conversations regarding the future of the EV market.
The Lookers Electric Charge route map
The Lookers Electric Charge began last week at Audi Dublin, before travelling to the sprawling 30-acre Charles Hurst site in Belfast. It will then be up to the team at Renault Newtownabbey to transfer the relay over the Irish Sea to Audi Ayr where it will travel down Scotland and then England until it reaches its final destination at Mercedes-Benz Eastbourne in October.
The initiative will include more than 180 stops, including visits to the Electrification Suite at Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich facility and Ford’s iconic factory in Dagenham. While in London, the Electric Charge will also hold the ultimate showdown between electric car and bike in a first-to-the-finish race across the city.
Lookers chief executive Andy Bruce, pictured with the ‘Lucky Bank’, said: ‘We are very excited to be launching the Lookers Electric Charge and have lots of fund raising activities planned. Central to this is our aim to travel to each site completely carbon neutral. The initiative will enable us to shine a light on a number of important topics and join timely conversations, whether that’s assessing the current state of the electric car industry, the actions we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint and, of course, the fantastic work that Ben is doing within the motor retail community.’
The relay will include a number of fully electric vehicles from Lookers’ wide range, including the Nissan e-NV200 electric van, the electric Hyundai Ionic and the soon to be released Jaguar I-PACE, which is being previewed by Lookers Jaguar at the London Motor Show.
Zara Ross, chief executive at Ben, said: “We are delighted that Andy Bruce and the team at Lookers are taking on this year’s Industry Leader Challenge to fundraise for Ben. We really appreciate their support and we’re very much looking forward to following the team on their epic journey across the UK! Good luck and thank you to everyone involved.
“Our services are funded entirely – and can only continue – through the generous support of the industry. Fundraising activities such as this are vital in ensuring that we can continue to provide life-changing support to industry colleagues as they face life’s toughest challenges.”
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