Residents will be offered a smart card to access a fleet of Renault ZOE and Fluence Z.E. electric vehicles, with loans starting at £5.50 per hour. Businesses can extend the loan to several days if required.

Maylands is the third scheme set up by E-Car Club, following similar operations in the East London borough of Poplar, and Oxford. Members will be able to access vehicles on all three schemes.

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.’

Christopher Morris, E-Car Club, added: ‘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.’