The UK’s first entirely electric pay-per-use car club, E-Car Club have launched a car club service to Maylands Business Park in partnership with Dacorum Borough Council. This is one of the first schemes of its kind and aims to improve mobility on a local level whilst simultaneously reducing both the cost and environmental impact of each journey taken.
E-Car will provide local businesses and members of the community with the convenience and flexibility of full-sized electric car without the cost of owning one.
In the first instance, there will be a Renault ZOE and a Renault Fluence available for hire by hour. Each vehicle has its own specially designated parking space and electric charging point in the Wood Lane End car park provided by Dacorum Borough Council. The range of the Renault ZOE when fully charged is around 100 miles, which makes it perfect for regional journeys.
Anyone can become a member of the Maylands E-Car Club and hire an E-Car for just £5.50 per hour. Members can book the vehicle by phone or online and the E-Car can be reserved for as little as an hour or as long as several days. Each member is provided with a smart card and secure code with which to access the electric car as well as E-Car Club cars across the UK.
The scheme should provide a low cost, low carbon, hassle free alternative to reimbursing grey fleet miles or owning a pool car. E-Car provides a simple fleet management tool, where insurance, maintenance and tax are all taken care of.
Transport Minister Baroness Kramer recently commented: “It’s inspiring to see a business like E-Car Club, which was only set up a couple of years ago, doing so much to promote ultra-low emission vehicles… E-Car Club is a scheme that kills three birds with one stone - congestion, cost and carbon.”
Car clubs have lots of benefits for communities and individuals, by taking cars out of circulation, reducing pressure on parking, making savings for families, reducing overall car use, and encouraging active travel.
Cllr Andrew Williams, Leader of the Council said: “We want to make it easier for people who work at Maylands to choose sustainable ways to get to work, whether it is public transport, cycling or car-sharing. The e-car club means there will always be an eco-friendly car available when people need it for their business - no matter how they choose to travel to work.”
“We are delighted to announce that after much hard work with our partners at Dacorum Borough Council, E-Car Club is now live in Maylands Business Park. We believe this to be the first entirely electric pay per use car sharing operation in a UK Business Park and are confident that the service will provide a low cost, flexible and environmentally sustainable travel option for businesses across the area” Christopher Morris, E-Car Club.