Electric vehicles and vintage cars to line up at Regent Street Motor Show

Visitors to a free motor show in the West End of London will be offered test drives in the latest low emission electric vehicles. The Regent Street Motor Show, which takes place on Saturday 5 November, will showcase the latest pure electric and plug-in hybrid cars.

The contemporary cars will be complemented by scores of veteran cars, which will be preparing for the annual London to Brighton Run on Sunday 6 November. Intriguingly, besides petrol-powered cars, some of the vintage vehicles are powered by electric batteries and steam.

First held in 2005, the Regent Street Motor Show now attracts around 450,000 visitors. The entire length of Regent Street from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus closed to traffic for the day, enabling visitors can wander freely amongst the exhibits and talk to experts from Go Ultra Low about an electric future. They can also have a short test drive in one of the cars on some of the roads around Regent Street.           

Go Ultra Low, a joint government and car industry backed campaign to encourage more drivers to switch to electric vehicles, will present a range of electric vehicles from leading manufacturers including Audi, BMW, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen. Poppy Welch, head of Go Ultra Low, said: “Last year’s event demonstrated how far motoring has come over the last hundred years, showcasing both the old and the new. This year visitors will have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the latest electric vehicles on the market, and even take some for a test drive.

“Electric vehicles offer drivers many benefits such as running costs from as little as 2p per mile, no road tax and exemption from the London Congestion Charge. Over 70,000 motorists across the country have made the switch. There are now more than 30 vehicles to choose from, so whether you’re looking for a small city run around, a family saloon or something a bit sportier, there’s an electric car for you.”

Transport for London (TfL) will also be at the event to encourage the take up of ultra low emission vehicles. It will show the latest technology being deployed in TfL vehicles and highlight the benefits of making the switch from diesel or petrol to ultra-low emission vehicles. The Low Emission Motoring Zone will also show examples of public transport from London’s past. Lilli Matson, TfL’s head of strategy and outcome planning, said: “Events like Regent Street Motor Show are a fantastic way for us to engage with people about the benefits of ultra low emission vehicles. The Mayor has made it clear that radical action needs to be taken to improve air quality. The pioneers purchasing ultra low emission vehicles are at the vanguard of an essential environmental revolution.”

www.regentstreetmotorshow.com