Lookers will be undertaking a carbon-neutral charity challenge, Lookers Electric Charge, relaying EVs over 2,000 miles in aid of Ben.

The challenge will see a relay of electric vehicles travel 2,000 miles to destinations, including all 155 of the retailers’ franchised dealerships, hosting fundraising activities such as carbon neutral days and green energy workshop, test drive events and golf days.

Ben’s chief executive Zara Ross said: “We really appreciate their support and we’re very much looking forward to following the team on their epic journey across the UK! Good luck and thank you to everyone involved.”

The initiative represents this year’s Industry Leader Challenge run by Ben, which is passed on every year by a business or organisation within the automotive industry to raise vital funds for the charity.

Lookers has also announced plans to adopt areas of woodland along the route.

Carbon credits will be purchased to ensure that the environmental target of completing the challenge carbon neutral is achieved.

The Lookers Electric Charge began this week at Audi Dublin, before travelling to the sprawling 30-acre Charles Hurst site in Belfast.

It will then be up to the team at Renault Newtownabbey to transfer the relay over the Irish Sea to Audi Ayr where it will travel down Scotland and then England until it reaches its final destination at Mercedes-Benz Eastbourne in October.

The initiative will include over 180 stops in total, including visits to the Electrification Suite at Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich facility and Ford’s iconic factory in Dagenham.

While in London, the Electric Charge will also hold the ultimate showdown between electric car and bike in a first-to-the-finish race across the city.

Lookers’ chief executive Andy Bruce (pictured) said: “The initiative will enable us to shine a light on a number of important topics and join timely conversations, whether that’s assessing the current state of the electric car industry, the actions we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint and, of course, the fantastic work that Ben is doing within the motor retail community.”

The relay will include a number of fully electric vehicles from Lookers’ wide range, including the Nissan e-NV200 electric van, the electric Hyundai Ionic and the soon to be released Jaguar I-PACE, which is being previewed by Lookers Jaguar at the London Motor Show.