June 7, 2022 - The Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2022 is underway, showcasing luxury tourism and Croatia's green credentials for the 9th year.
Did you hear about the time Elon Musk's mum took part in a electric car race driving a Tesla? Not many have (That Time Elon Musk's Mum Maye Came on the Nikola Tesla EV Rally in Croatia).
(Maye Musk with event organisers Igor and Tina Kolovrat)
Or that time when a Jadrolinija ferry was 100% occupied by electric cars, an image which was shared on social media by Musk's Tesla company?
Or the time that Croatia's own electric car genius, Mate Rimac, took part in speed tests on the same rally in his Concept_One?
One of the very best events in Croatia is underway for a ninth year, the Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2022, which kicked off in Istria, and which will be making its way down the coast to Zadar over the next week. More than 60 electric vehicles, predominantly Teslas, will be taking part in the quietest race in the world.
An excellent week of 5-star hotels, excellent Croatian gastronomy and culture are being enjoyed by a very international field, as well as speed skill exams for competitors to pit their skills against each other.
A key component of the rally each year is connecting with the public who are interested in learning more about the electric car revolution. The programme of this year's rally is below, with local tourist boards able to inform you on exact arrival times and locations.
05.06. START Rovinj
06.06. Rovinj (Riva – Obala Maršala Tita) – PROGRAM:
– 11.00 gathering/arrival of vehicles
– 11.30 – 12.00 h official start announcement by Mayor of Rovinj, Mr. Marko Paliaga
07-08.06. Rovinj – Vrsar – Svetvinčenat – Kringa- Tinjan – Pazin – Lupoglav – Hum – Opatija – Zadar
09.06. Šibenik – PROGRAM:
– 13.30 . 16.30 h exhibition of vehicles on Riva (Obala dr.Franje Tuđmana)
10.06. Zadar – PROGRAM: Parking of Višnjik Sport Center (open for public, visitors are welcome)
– 11.00 h gathering
– 11.15 – 13.30 h „Speed skill exam“
– 13.45 h Award ceremony
11.06. FINISH Zadar
Here is how the rally looks in the video below. To follow the latest, check out the Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2022 Facebook page.
June 2, 2021 - On May 23, the Nikola Tesla EV Rally started in Istria, and after eight days, ten cities, five national and natural parks and a lot of adrenaline, the quietest rally in the world concluded in Zagreb.
As reported by hrturizam.hr today, the race next to the National and University Library in Zagreb ended the eighth edition of the most beautiful and quietest rally in the world "Nikola Tesla EV Rally Croatia 2021".
The rally, which is a kind of tourist-technological promotion of Croatia, started on May 23 in Istria, and during eight days 1251 kilometers were driven on routes from Rovinj, Opatija through Zadar, Smiljan to Zagreb, the host city that has supported the project since 2014.
Teams from all over Europe cruised the panoramic roads through six counties, visited ten cities and five national parks, and nature parks. Participants enjoyed a dose of adrenaline through races at two locations and a superb eno-gastro experience at each stop location.
Nikola Tesla EV Rally Official Facebook (Photo: Dinko Samardzic)
"Nikola Tesla EV Rally Croatia" is a unique project that combines e-mobility and tourism, creating a new "niche" in the premium tourist offer. It promotes the use of electric vehicles, as well as the natural beauty of Croatia and green technology.
Gathered at all stopping locations, they could see various e-vehicles such as all Tesla models, Škoda Enyaq IV, WV ID-3, e-Twingo, Opel Mokka, e-Smart, and Jaguar I-Pace, a vehicle sponsored by the British Embassy in Zagreb, whose representatives actively participated in the rally by driving the section Zadar - MC Nikola Tesla - Plitvice - Zagreb.
Nikola Tesla EV Rally Official Facebook (Photo: Dinko Samardzic)
The end of the event was marked by a solemn ceremony of announcing the winners and handing over the trophies, which were presented to the winners by the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Andrew Stuart Dalgleish. The first three places were won by Franz Maier from Germany, Manuel Strohmeier from Austria, and Elisa (Alexander) Goldberg from Germany.
From year to year, with the support of partners such as the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency (EPEEF), this event promotes awareness of e-mobility, the importance of obtaining energy from renewable sources, and Croatia as an "e-mobility friendly" tourist destination. 97% of participants have never been to Croatia and the rally is actually their first contact with Croatia, after which almost everyone announced their return in private.
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One of the finest Croatian tourism promotion events takes place once again on May 12, 2019 - Nikola Tesla EV Rally, the quietest rally in the world.
It is an event in his homeland that would have made Nikola Tesla proud. An event whose past participants have included the mother of Mr Modern Day Tesla, Maye Musk, the new king of electric supercars, Mate Rimac, and the first buyer of the Rimac Concept One. An event which takes place in a country of staggering natural beauty, 10% of which is given over to national and nature parks. It is an event in his homeland that would have made Nikola Tesla proud. An event whose past participants have included the mother of Mr Modern Day Tesla, Maye Musk, the new king of electric supercars, Mate Rimac, and the first buyer of the Rimac Concept One. An event which takes place in a country of staggering natural beauty, 10% of which is given over to national and nature parks.
Welcome to the Nikola Tesla EV Rally in Croatia, officially the quietest rally in the world.
Now in its 6th year, this unique rally comprises a luxury tour of the finest sights, nature, hotels and gourmet experiences that Croatia has to offer. An 8-day luxury electric vehicle rally over 1,500 km taking in Croatia's fabled coastline and islands, 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 4 national parks, 3 Game of Thrones filming locations, and the birthplace of Nikola Tesla himself in Smiljan.
Starting at luxury Novi Spa and Hotels Resort in Novi Vinodolski, the rally will be based at Sun Gardens Dubrovnik, before heading north to Sibenik, then inland to Smiljan, Plitvice Lakes and finishing in Zagreb.
The electric vehicle revolution is taking off in Croatia, largely due to the efforts of the rally organisers, and full charging options are catered for. As just one part of its contribution to sustainable tourism, the Nikola Tesla EV Rally is the only rally in the world which leaves infrastructure for e-vehicles behind. This includes a charging station donated at the birthplace of Tesla in Smiljan.
The rally attracts a truly international field each year, with many from Austria, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Switzerland and Norway, as well as further afield from Canada and South Africa.
Last year's rally saw the remarkable sight of 50 Teslas alone on a ferry at one time. The rally is not a race as such (although there are 3 speed races included), more a leisurely drive admiring one of the truly more glorious natural paradises in the world.
If you are interested in seeing the magic of the country which gave the world Nikola Telsa in a manner in which he would surely have approved, learn more about the Nikola Tesla EV Rally on the official website, and check out the 2019 itinerary below.
"NIKOLA TESLA EV RALLY CROATIA 2019"
12.05.2019. START Novi Vinodolski (hotel Novi Spa Hotels & Resort)
13.05.2019. Novi Vinodolski – Klis - Dubrovnik
14.05.2019. Dubrovnik Old Town – Lokrum island
15.05.2019. Dubrovnik – Cavtat
16.05.2019. Dubrovnik – Ston - Šibenik
17.05.2019. Zadar – Šibenik – Skradin – NP Krka
18.05.2019. Šibenik - MC Nikola Tesla-Plitvička Jezera - Zagreb
19.05.2019. Zagreb- FINISH
Award and celebration ceremony
Lunch- FINISH!
See you in 2020.
Nikola Tesla EV Rally Team!
The 5th Nikola Tesla EV Rally came to an end in some style on the streets of Zagreb on June 10, 2018.
June 10, 2018 - The 2018 Nikola Tesla EV Rally reaches Zagreb, as Minister for the Environment and Energy Tomislav Coric joins the rally at the birthplace of Nikola Tesla.
June 8, 2018 - Testing the electric vehicle infrastructure of Croatia's islands, the Nikola Tesla EV Rally heads south from Losinj to Zadar.
A Tesla invasion of Croatian islands on June 4, 2018, as the Nikola Tesla EV Rally 2018 continues.
The world's quietest (and arguably most beautiful) rally began in Rovinj on June 3, 2018, as almost 50 Teslas begin a luxury tour of the birthplace of the great inventor, as the fifth edition of the Nikola Tesla EV Rally gets underway in Istria.
May 3, 2018 - A luxury tourism event which showcases the very best of Croatia. Take a look at what is in store for participants of the 2018 Nikola Tesla EV Rally next month, the quietest rally in the world.