A new study by electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions provider NewMotion has revealed that the amount of energy used in lighting Christmas trees across the UK could power an EV to drive 50 times around the world.

These figures were based on the amount of power it would take to light the trees 12 hours a day for every day in December.

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In addition, the study also showed this consumption would also be equivalent to travelling from Lands’ End in Cornwall to John O’Groats in Scotland more than one million times.

NewMotion's UK country manager Sander van der Veen said: “It’s that time of the year when Christmas lights appear and families come together.

"What people don’t realise is the energy they are using on lighting their trees could actually get them to and from visiting loved ones and making it home for Christmas."

“What people don’t realise is the energy they are using on lighting their trees could actually get them to and from visiting loved ones and making it home for Christmas.”

Another comparison provided is the power used is equal to sending a space shuttle 41.91 times to and from the moon in an EV.

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Headquartered in Amsterdam, NewMotion has carried out the research based on a fully charged hatchback electric car Nissan Leaf, which has a battery capacity of 30kWh and a driving range of 250km.


Image: Christmas Tree in Trafalgar Square, London, England. Photo: courtesy of DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0.

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