Electric car club launched by East Herts Council

An electric car club has been launched by East Herts Council as part of its strategy to improve air quality and traffic congestion and reduce single occupancy car commuting.

E Car Club has deployed three new vehicles at the council's Wallfields offices in Hertford and two at The Causeway Car Park in Bishop's Stortford, offering an excellent opportunity for people to trial electric vehicles before making their own move to one. They're parked in electric-vehicle spaces installed by the council.

The scheme has been funded through a Defra air quality grant, with the sites for the cars chosen to be close to two Air Quality Management Areas- Gascoyne Way and Hockerill Junction.

The cars can be booked outside of work hours during the week, 6pm-8.30am and anytime at weekends, at a cost of £6.50 per hour, or £60 for 24 hours. They can be booked for any length of time over one hour and as they're fully electric, there are no additional fuel costs. Insurance is included in the price, and minimum membership age is 19.

E-Car Club's Renault ZOE 40KwH hatchbacks have an average range of 120-150 miles per charge.

Graham McAndrew, executive member for environment, said: "We're pleased to be able to offer our residents an alternative to car ownership. Many people don't need a car every day but would like to have access to a vehicle at weekends or evenings. E-car club allows them to enjoy the benefits of having a car, without the running and repair expense. These cars also have the added benefit of being electric, which will help our environment, particularly in the most polluted parts of our district."