Renault is sponsoring the Pod Point tour, as its Zoe supermini drives 2,000 miles around the UK in 17 days.

‘Charging around the UK' (CATUK) sees Renault as the main sponsor of a new UK charging tour. Kicking off on 12 June in London, the tour will take in 15 towns and cities, as well as several corners of the UK, including John O'Groats and Lands End, before finishing up in Brighton.

Along the way, it will be using a variety of charging sources and locations, ranging from gyms, residential, supermarkets, petrol stations.

Renault is supplying one Zoe for the tour, and is also displaying one at the launch site, Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, in the heart of Piccadilly.

It will will host four events of its own at dealerships, who will provide entertainment and activities in Bath (21 June), Bristol (22), Cardiff (20) and Newcastle (13). The car will also be taking to BBC Top Gear's infamous Dunsfold track en route.

Ben Fletcher, product manager, electric vehicle programme, said: "We're pleased to be supporting the Charging around the UK campaign. ZOE has the longest range of any affordable, mass market electric vehicle. It's quiet, refined and nippy too, so it's the perfect companion for such a long road trip. The average supermini covers 8,000 miles in a year, so for Zoe to be tackling a quarter of this distance in just two weeks, will show just how viable it is as an alternative to fossil-fuelled transport."

The tour's aim is to educate the British public that top-up charging is broadly similar to powering other battery operated items, like a laptop or mobile phone.

Erik Fairbairn of POD Point added, "With CATUK we're showing that EV drivers need not fear range anxiety, as they can build up their own Pod Point charging chain. By choosing the location of their charging points, they don't need to alter their daily routine, which is great for their travel plans. My vision is to install a Pod Point wherever you park your electric car."