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A new hybrid vehicle hire system has opened in Exeter - three years after the collapse of Co Cars
Last updated 19th Mar 2026
A new hybrid-car rental service has started in Exeter, three years after the collapse of a South West-wide electric car and bike hire scheme.
'Co Wheels' is also running in Plymouth and this week's opening in Exeter is backed by Devon County Council - which hopes more drivers will consider 'car membership' as a posed to 'car ownership'.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson said: "We're so addicted to our cars, our own private car and our extension to our home and our lives that we can forget that we can be a little bit more separated."
The Green party cabinet member for climate change hopes the new offer saves users money, adding: "if it needs new tyres, if it has to have its MOT or if you have to pay for the car tax that's someone else's worry."
The five low-emission, hybrid vehicles are available to book by the hour or day from this week across Exeter with members using the Co Wheels app for bookings, and prices starting from £7.50 per hour or £50 per day.
Councillor Hodgson added: “By making it easier to share vehicles, we can support more sustainable travel choices and take another important step towards tackling climate change while still meeting people’s everyday travel needs.”
In 2023, when the separate community enterprise Co Cars went into administration there was 10,000 members for its electric car and bike service - with estimated debts of about £500,000. Co cars was founded in 2005 and provided services across Exeter, Truro, Falmouth and Plymouth.
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson said: "Car clubs like Co Wheels help reduce congestion, free up valuable parking space and lower emissions by enabling more people to share fewer vehicles.
"Research shows that each car club vehicle can replace up to 20 privately owned cars, encouraging residents to walk, cycle and use public transport for everyday journeys.
"The scheme supports our ambitions to reduce traffic and improve air quality while providing a flexible transport solution for local communities."
Co Wheels describes itself as the UK’s largest community interest car club operator and a company spokesperson said: "It was found that Co Wheels cars give off 54% less emissions than the average privately owned cars in the UK, making them the greenest, cleanest national car club in the country."