After a year of sporting events (as well as everything else) being put on hold, everything is coming back in very quick succession, and next year we will see the return of the Commonwealth Games which are being held in the City of Birmingham. The Commonwealth Games and electric vehicles have a long-intertwined history dating back to when the Games were held in Kuala Lumpur in 1998 and a number of electric cars were supplied by Elektriksuria to transport officials around the event village. These were the first Malaysian electric cars and they were capable of an incredible 100km on a single charge (well, it was amazing for the time).
When the Commonwealth Games were last in the UK in 2014 (Glasgow) a number of the 1100 cars supplied by Ford were electric and were used by the organisers. As the Games return to the UK we can expect to see 100% of the official vehicles being electric. Birmingham are aiming to make their Commonwealth Games the very first carbon neutral games in history. The use of electric cars will be a big part of that.
For a bit of fun I will now host the inaugural (and probably last) Electric Vehicles Games. I will be choosing my winners from the EVision Electric Vehicles fleet as well as vehicles we will be getting soon. Let’s see who wins (it is all my own opinion. If you think that there are better deserving winners from the EVision fleet, let us know on our social media channels).
The 100m Sprint (Speed)
Bronze Medal – The winner of the bronze medal in this event is the Kia EV6 GT Line AWD. A Family car shouldn’t be able to do 0-60 in 3.5 seconds, yet the Kia EV6 GT AWD can do exactly that! At only two tenths of a second slower than the car in silver medal position, the EV6 has earned its position on the podium.
Silver Medal – The winner of the silver medal is the Porsche Taycan. A Supercar name that is living up to the brand. The low, aerodynamic shape means that this car is built for speed.
Gold Medal – The Usain Bolt of the car world, it can only be the Tesla Model S P100D. Years after it first came out and the P100D is still leaving other cars behind on the track. This car was reported to the organisers for using performance enhancing ludicrous plus mode. The organisers (me) don’t care because ludicrous plus is just too awesome.
The Marathon (Distance)
Bronze Medal – And it’s another bronze medal for the Kia EV6. Not only can the Kia EV6 pack a punchy speed, it can also rack up the miles. With a real world range of over 300 miles, the EV6 is showing other manufacturers what a reasonably priced car can achieve.
Silver Medal – The Tesla Model 3 Long Range has proved to be a very popular car in the UK. The distance you can get from a single charge has a lot to do with that. With a WLTP range of 360 miles, the Model 3 should calm even the most anxious of drivers.
Gold Medal – Any electric vehicle that can travel the 874 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End, stopping only once for a charge, has to be a shoo in for the gold medal. So in first place it’s the Guinness World Record Holder, the Ford Mustang Mach-e. This really is the Eliud Kipchoge of the EV world.
The Triathlon (Multitasking Cars)
Bronze Medal – The Polestar 2 is up first here. Such a joyous car to drive and one that is fitted with some amazing features to make your driving experience so much better. A quality car that has speed, distance and comfort all included. Well worthy of a podium finish.
Silver Medal – The Mercedes EQC. Mercedes have been late to the party, but they have turned up and they’ve brought supplies. When you think of Mercedes you automatically think of high end quality and performance. The German manufacturer has delivered in spades with the incredible technology on board. This is a versatile family SUV that is spacious, comfortable, can perform and has next level tech included.
Gold Medal – After winning two bronze medals the time has come for the Kia EV6 to take home the gold. Praised to the highest level by the Fully Charged team (and rightly so) the EV6 has something for everyone. Not only does The Kia EV6 have the speed and distance performance, it also has the technology you really want (even if you didn’t know you wanted it before you saw it). From the parking cameras, the charge points (there are USB charge ports everywhere!), the unbelievably big amount of storage, the really thought out little bits around the car that make life a little bit easier, the Kia EV6 has smashed it out of the park.
Boxing (The Knockout Cars)
Bronze Medal – The Jaguar I-Pace is fully deserving of a bronze medal here. Not only does the car look amazing, it is also solidly built and has an air of sophistication about it. Jaguar are old timers in the car world and they know how to build quality vehicles.
Silver Medal – Next up is the Hyundai Ioniq 5. There was no doubt as to which car got the most attention at the Fully Charged Show Live Outside this year. It is absolutely stunning to look at and will be a surefire hit with our customers when EVision Electric Vehicles has delivery of the car soon.
Gold Medal – Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and this is true. However, it’s impossible to ignore the Porsche Taycan. A Supercar that looks like a Supercar and performs like a Supercar. A true beauty that screams luxury, style and expensiveness. It is, well, a super car and was the only choice for the gold medal.
Weightlifting (The Big Lifters for Big Loads)
Bronze Medal – We start off with a car rather than a van. The Tesla Model X has a ridiculous amount of room for a car. Not only is there an abundance of space in the boot, there is also an absolutely enormous frunk on the Tesla Model X. This is a vehicle that can hold a lot of cargo!
Silver Medal – In silver position is the Renault Kangoo. This is a van that was built for work. There is a lot of space in the cargo area, especially when the second row of seats are put down. The Renault Kangoo is a no thrills, no messing about van that is more than capable of fulfilling it’s heavy duties.
Gold Medal – There could only be one winner of the weightlifting category. The Vauxhall Vivaro-e is a proper work van with a massive amount of cargo space. Not only has this heavy duty vehicle got the space, it also has the performance required by workers who want to travel longer distances. With a range of 200 miles and with rapid charging capabilities, there are no limits to where you can go. The Vivaro-e ticks all the workman boxes and takes home the gold.
The Closing Ceremony (Conclusions)
What we can see from these categories is that there are so many different cars that are suitable for different purposes and lifestyles. What will suit one person will not necessarily suit another. Personally I think that all electric cars deserve a gold medal for being the early pioneers of the electric revolution.
Birmingham 2022 promises to be the most sustainable Commonwealth Games in history. I really look forward to seeing how they put this into action and what the legacy of the Games will be after the curtain comes down on such a major and promising event.
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* All information correct as of 06/12/2021.
