An EV car club pilot has launched in Coleford
Residents will be able to hire out an electric car for as little as an hour
Residents of the Forest of Dean now have access to a new, flexible transport option in Coleford.
It’s as the Forest of Dean District Council have launched a 12-month electric vehicle (EV) car club pilot.
The pilot gives residents a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to private car ownership by making a Nissan Leaf car club vehicle available to hire via an app.
Bookings can be made for as little as one hour and is set to provide a convenient and sustainable transport solution for short trips or occasional use.
The EV will be based initially at Railway Drive Car Park in Coleford, with the pilot marking the first step towards the council’s long-term vision of creating a district-wide mobility hub which includes e-bike hire and expanded EV access across the district’s other market towns of Cinderford, Newent and Lydney.
The scheme has been made possible through £20,000 in funding from the Western Gateway Sub-national Transport Body.
The car can be hired through the Hiyacar platform, which also supports peer-to-peer car sharing.
Cllr Chris McFarling, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency at Forest of Dean District Council, said: “We’re delighted to introduce this new transport option to Coleford residents.
“The EV is available to hire now with rental starting from as little as £2.50 per hour, excluding insurance.
“Establishing a mobility hub with access to electric vehicles and bikes is a vital step in tackling key issues around providing affordable alternatives that people want, so that they can play their part in avoiding the continued burning of fossil fuels like petrol and diesel that increase global warming.
“As a rural district, we know that residents need affordable and flexible transport options, but our powers to change the transport infrastructure are limited.
“We also acknowledge that car travel remains a necessity for many in the area, however this pilot will encourage a transition from car ownership to shared use of low emission vehicles.”