A nearly 10-year-old Tesla Model S took to the roads last week to address doubts about electric vehicles (EVs), focusing on battery health and the UK’s charging infrastructure.

The Model S completed 1,558 miles over five days, requiring just over seven full charges while navigating predominantly rural routes in the annual EV Rally. This event aims to showcase the potential of the UK charging infrastructure alongside clean and innovative vehicle technology.

Forty-six electric vehicles participated, starting in the West Midlands and travelling through Scotland, the North East, East of England, Yorkshire, and Wales, before concluding in Chester.

Lex Autolease, a UK leasing specialist, sponsored the event for the third consecutive year. Their sponsorship aims to raise awareness of the role EVs can play in UK fleets by improving efficiency, saving money, and contributing to net-zero goals.

The Tesla Model S, initially purchased in 2015, had 113,000 miles before being integrated into Lex Autolease’s internal fleet, where it has since reached 255,169 miles. Remarkably, no major drivetrain or battery components have been replaced, retaining the original factory battery and motor.

The founder of the national EV campaign FairCharge, Quentin Willson, drove the Tesla for the first two days of the Rally.

Nick Williams, Managing Director for Lloyds Banking Group Transport, said: “We’re proud to have sponsored the EV Rally for the third year in a row. With transport responsible for over a quarter of all UK emissions, it’s critical to debunk myths, support fair charging infrastructure, and promote battery health testing. Increasing EV adoption, driver confidence, and accessibility is vital for a sustainable future.”

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