Entering its second decade, the biggest changes in the history of Ignitis ON electric car race

The competition, which is turning into an international event, will be a considerable challenge for its participants - unknown roads and charging infrastructure can significantly complicate the path to victory. However, this event has been a testing ground for electromobility from the start. This time even two races will be contested at the same time. "Business" class participants will try to reach Estonia's summer capital as efficiently as possible, will choose a shorter route and will not detour from it to admire memorable places. In the "Tourism" class, the crews that cover the most kilometers in 7 hours will win. A total of 60 teams with unmodified electric cars will be able to participate in the competition, and for the first time it will be possible to register for them not only in Lithuania, but also in Latvia and Estonia. The organizers plan to start registration at the beginning of February 2025.

Eimantas Balta, head of the electric mobility department at Ignitis, did not hide his joy when commenting on the upcoming competition and the expanded geography: "We are developing a leading charging network for electric cars in all Baltic countries, so the continuation of the competition route to Latvia and Estonia is very appropriate. At the beginning of the summer, we opened the largest fast charging park for electric cars in Palanga, so it is symbolic that this year it was the finish point, and next year it will gather participants before the start. "Ignitis ON" charging network is well developed in Lithuania, Latvia, we have no doubt that by the date of the competition it will be possible to conveniently charge in our network in Estonia as well", shared E. Balta.

In October, the organizers covered the entire route with a Renault Scenic electric car. Weather conditions were not bad (+10 C, sunny), so energy consumption varied between 16.9 and 19 kWh/100 km. Never exceeding the speed limit, we managed to cover 472 km without difficulty and with a reserve of 20 km at the end of the trip. By the way, on the Renault screens we can see not only the average consumption, the estimated number of kilometers that can be covered, but also the remaining battery percentage at the end of the trip, if the destination point is entered in the navigation. If the kilometer forecast at the beginning of the trip is always a little too optimistic, the remaining percentage has always been very accurately predicted. We arrived at the start of the competition route in Palanga from Vilnius without additional charging. At the halfway point, the computer indicated that it would arrive with 1% remaining, it reached the destination with 0%. On the trip from Palanga to Parnu, the heating was working, if we had to overtake other cars, we did it quickly enough. Well, in a word, we did not save. Renault Scenic could participate in both classes in the "Ignitis ON: Discover the seaside!" competition. It easily reaches the finish line without recharging and would also be a contender for the podium in the Touring class as it recharges quickly enough. On the way back, we charged the car at the Ignitis ON fast charging station in Pasvalys, and the Scenic charged at 146 kW.