Cumbria Tourism Powers Up the County in the Kia EV9

This World Tourism Day, we’re celebrating our partnership with Cumbria Tourism, who have been embracing eco-friendly travel with the award-winning Kia EV9, courtesy of Lloyd Kia South Lakes. After nearly four months of utilising this cutting-edge electric car, it's the perfect time to recap their adventures, driving experiences, and the carbon emissions they've saved so far.

Over the past few of months, Cumbria Tourism has been maximizing car-sharing and minimising their carbon footprint by using the Kia EV9 for staff travel to meetings and events across the county. They've taken advantage of Cumbria's expanding network of EV chargers and their two new EV charge points at their headquarters in Staveley, which are also available to the public.

With a busy schedule, the team has travelled to various parts of Cumbria, including Lakes College Workington, Cockermouth, Bassenthwaite, Hawkshead, and Lupton. Their journeys have allowed them to fully experience what the Kia EV9 has to offer, from ultra-fast charging to intuitive safety features.

Their adventures have also taken them to some fantastic businesses across the county, such as Hidden River Cabins, Farlam Hall, the Fleece at Ruleholme, the Theatre by the Lake, and the Low Wood Hotel. Visiting businesses from all over the county has seen them making full use of the EV9's remarkable range - up to 349 miles on a single charge.



So far, the team have travelled 3736 miles in the Kia EV9, and have calculated an estimated saving of 1569.2kg of CO2e compared to using a petrol vehicle over a similar distance!



When asked about their experience with the EV9, Gill Haigh, Managing Director of Cumbria Tourism, said:

“We have all been really loving the Kia. The range is really important to us, enabling the team to cover the county, from Barrow to Carlisle, Whitehaven to Ullswater, Maryport to Kendal, without any worries. CT also has its own EVC facilities back at base, so it means we are always set up and ready for the next journey.

“Whilst it is big, it handles really well and is super easy to drive, from the motorway and City of Carlisle to some of our more traditional Lake District lanes and passes. We have had events which required us to carry loads of equipment and 6 people – and there is still lots and lots of room to spare.

“It’s also a real head-turner of a vehicle, with people wanting to talk about it wherever we go”.



Cumbria Tourism adds real value to Cumbria's world-class visitor economy by promoting the Lake District regionally, nationally, and internationally. Their priority is to maximise the reputation of the Lake District, Cumbria, support their member businesses in growing visitor numbers, increase visitation to lesser-known areas, and enhance the county's economic value.



As the Cumbria Tourism team has discovered, the Kia EV9 is truly a unique electric vehicle. With seven seats as standard, including swivel seats in the second row, and generous space for passengers and cargo, it's easy to see why it was crowned the 2024 World Car of the Year and the 2024 World Electric Vehicle at the 2024 World Car Awards.

To stay updated on the Cumbria Tourism team's travels across the county, follow their social media channels, and learn more about the award-winning Kia EV9 by tapping the link below.