THE Cumbria Tourism team is charging ahead with a new all-electric car from its strategic partner Lloyd Motor Group, as it promotes the benefits of adopting more eco-friendly modes of transport.

As the county’s official Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), Cumbria Tourism will be using the Kia EV9 from Lloyd Kia South Lakes to maximise car-sharing and minimise carbon emissions as staff travel to and from meetings and events.

Not only will the team be making use of the expanding network of EV chargers across the county, but they also have the added value of two newly-installed EV charge points at Cumbria Tourism’s HQ in Staveley – also available to members of the public.

It’s hoped the partnership with Lloyd Motor Group will help show both businesses and visitors how straightforward it is to travel and live in Cumbria with an EV and after just two weeks, the vehicle is already generating positive conversations about environmental sustainability.

The vehicle itself is a Kia EV9 fully-electric seven-seater SUV and was recently crowned as both ‘World Car of the Year’ and ‘World Electric Vehicle’ for 2024.

Its maximum range is 349 miles and this is the first Kia to feature fourth-generation battery technology for improved performance, with ultra-fast charging of up to 154 miles in 15 minutes.

Managing director of Cumbria Tourism, Gill Haigh, said: “We’re excited to be working with our strategic partner Lloyd Motor Group to showcase the possibilities that electric vehicles offer to both visitors and businesses for getting around the county.

“As well as making use of a low-carbon alternative for our own organisation, we hope being seen out and about in the Kia EV9 and using Cumbria’s steadily increasing network of public EV charge points will help tackle some of the misconceptions around charging, battery reliability and range anxiety.”

Mark Smith, head of business at Lloyd Kia South Lakes, said: “We’re delighted to continue our strategic partnership with Cumbria Tourism, and feel the EV9 is an excellent fit for the team thanks to the ever-increasing charging infrastructure in the area.

“The Kia EV9 is a fantastic looking vehicle and definitely attracts a crowd, and we’re proud to have provided the team such a stand-out fully-electric vehicle.

"We look forward to hearing more about their experiences with electric, as they highlight the benefits it can bring to the businesses and visitors across Cumbria.”