Dundee celebrates success of FIA Eco Rally Scotland 2026

21 August, 2026 | Dundee Electric

Dundee City Council is celebrating the success of FIA Eco Rally Scotland 2026, which took place across Tayside and Fife on 1 and 2 August, cementing the city's reputation as a leading centre for electric vehicles and sustainable transport in the UK.

Now in its second year and based in Dundee, the UK's only UNESCO City of Design, the event formed round eight of the 2026 FIA Eco Rally Cup. Fifteen teams from nine nations took part, driving standard electric road cars over a demanding 259 mile route that tested precision and energy efficiency rather than outright speed.

Credit: Lee Fisher

Spain's Jose Manuel Perez Aicart and Javier Herrera Alejos took overall victory, taking the title from defending champions Michal Žďárský and Jakub Nábělek of the Czech Republic. Portugal's Eduardo Carpinteiro Albino and Jose Carlos Figueiredo claimed bronze in their Kia EV4, edging out championship leaders Guido Guerrini and Artur Prusak by just 0.2 seconds, one of the closest finishes in the history of the FIA Eco Rally Cup.

Credit: Lee Fisher

The event was delivered in partnership with Dundee City Council and Evolt Charging, powered by SWARCO, who supported the rally as official charging partner. Local organisations including Bell Street Mobility Hub, Abertay University and John Clark Motor Group also played a part in bringing the event to the city, alongside a team of volunteers from Saltire Rally Club and representatives from Motorsport UK.

Dundee City Council transport lead Cllr Siobhan Tolland said: "This prestigious event gave us the opportunity to showcase Dundee's achievements as an EV city.

"Dundee's pioneering efforts in electrifying our transportation infrastructure and embracing innovative technologies have firmly positioned the city as a leader in the EV space.

"I am delighted at the range of inclusive activities that were on offer this year, which helped people to get involved and learn about our EV journey."

Richard Crozier, Clerk of the Course for Eco Rally Scotland 2026, said: "We've learned a lot, the end result is amazing! We've had incredibly low averages from a strong field of teams; the winner was on an average of 0.13 of a second over 240 timing points. In partnership with Dundee City Council and Evolt Charging powered by SWARCO we have levelled up the offering this year, it's been an amazing effort by a team of volunteers and from Saltire Rally Club and representatives from Motorsport UK."

Credit: Lee Fisher

Ian Smith, Technical Director at Motorsport UK, added: "It's the second edition of the FIA Eco Rally in Scotland, we made a lot of effort to ensure that the feedback from year one was all actioned in both the event and the accuracy across all of the regularity sections. Events like Eco Rally demonstrate that you can cover significant mileage in your own car, with Dundee acting as the ideal hub for the event thanks to its sustainable credentials."

Dundee's extensive electric vehicle charging network, one of the most developed of any UK city, made it an ideal base for competitors and organisers throughout the two day event.

Credit: Lee Fisher

Testimonials

“I love my new Nissan Leaf… the forward-thinking city council are at the forefront of the whole electric car revolution”

Lorraine Kelly

“Electric taxis always surprise our customers with how quiet they are. The switch from fuel to electricity has saved us thousands – and it’s clean too!”

There are now a total of 235 electric taxis operating in Dundee which is almost 40% of all taxis operating in the city.

Dundee Taxis

"For over a decade, Dundee City Council has been committed to transforming transportation. Today, Dundee is one of the UK's leading EV cities, with 34% of fleet vehicles being electric. This is facilitated by an extensive network of electric vehicle charging hubs and infrastructure covering the city, and more recently, the incorporation of renewable energy solutions into city projects."

Dundee City Council

“The excellent charging infrastructure in Dundee makes running an electric car very easy. I often plug in to one of the chargers in town, pop to the shops and my Nissan Leaf is fully charged by the time I’m done. I can’t wait to use the charging hubs that are planned across the city.”

Elinor, Dundee

“We are now using an electric car since 2012 and will not go back to a petrol car. The drive is smooth, responsive and quiet. With Dundee getting better and better with chargers in several places, what’s not to like? The car has saved us money compared to the Ford Ka we had before, with currently over 90,000 miles, you can’t tell us it’s not used. Looking forward to the new charging hubs in Dundee.”

Erwin, Alyth

“EVs have only 1% of the moving components, so they’re really reliable. There are EVs that have clocked up over 174,000 miles in three years and only needed a ball bearing replaced. Switching to an EV from a 70mpg hybrid and charging it at home has saved me £500 per year on fuel and maintenance alone.”

Euan, Dundee University graduate

“Our two electric vans have completely transformed our business. Not only have they helped reduced our running costs, but they are much better for the environment and work well with the stop start style of driving that we do on our free pick-up and delivery service. The move over to electric vehicles has been extremely easy due to the excellent facilities for charging in the local Dundee area. We are even considering adding a third electric vehicle to our fleet.”

Laundry On-Line

“Using the EVs with Co Wheels has been a game changer for me. I’m a new driver and it’s been amazing to have access to a range of EVs that I can hire on the spot. It’s also really good knowing that I’m being kind on the environment and that I’m not polluting the air. Using these vehicles has persuaded me to look into purchasing my own EV in the future."

Chloe, Co Wheels user

"We are proud to see our city leading the charge when it comes to electric vehicles. Dundee is one of the most EV-friendly cities in the UK, with a growing network of rapid and accessible charging hubs - you’re never far from a top-up.

From pioneering charging infrastructure to supporting community and council EV adoption, the city is setting a powerful example for others to follow."

Sustainable Dundee Network

“Dundee City Council shows time and time again its commitment to low carbon innovation.

Connected Energy has worked with the Council since 2016 to provide battery energy storage for the City’s charging hubs. The low carbon team at the Council push the boundaries and continuously strives to bring innovative thinking to its charging infrastructure.”

Matthew Lumsden, Connected Energy

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