London Launches First Electric Car Hire Scheme in UK
Earlier this week, London launched Britain’s first ever electric car hire scheme. The initiative, run by Streetcar, the country’s largest pay-as-you-go car-sharing club, will offer members a specially adapted Toyota Prius at rates starting from £5.95 (just under $10) an hour.
If the trial proves a hit with club members, Streetcar plans to roll out extra electric cars throughout the capital to meet rising demand.
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The joint initiative, led by Camden council and Transport for London, is backed by flamboyant mayor Boris Johnson and introduces the adapted Prius as one of the 1,200 pay-as-you-go vehicles in the fleet, available to the club’s 58,000 members.
The customized Prius, known as the “Amberjac,” costs around £36,000 ($58,000), represents the club’s first entry into environmentally friendly transport.
Speaking about the scheme, Brett Akker, the co-founder of Streetcar, told reporters: “Our members are expected to rise to 250,000 by 2012 as more and more people recognise the environmental and cost benefits of joining a car club,” also adding, “Once they have joined we want to offer them the best possible service and our members will be the first people in Europe to hire a car with this electric technology.”
Image Credit - doug88888 on flickr
Thanks very much for the mention Andrew - hopefully the trial goes well.
Great photo you used to illustrate the story.
Thanks,
Paul
I really hope the Electric Car Hire Scheme will work in London. The rest of the world can then take note and start implementing the same scheme.
We need more promotion for the humble electric vehicle.
Thanks for the post.
‘Will
Good idea. It will probably have a positive effect on electric and hybrid car sales as well, as more people are exposed to them and their public profile is raised.
What about recharging? Are there charging stations planned for the electric vehicles, or battery swap stations?
Sounds great but very misleading. The car can do 30 miles and needs petrol. It is a Hybrid no matter what retro fitting it has received.
The disposal of the battery cell is far less eco friendly than a petrol combustion engine.
I think electric cars are the way forward but more around the Citroen C1 Evie rather than the Hybrid .
We need not always to believe the hype.