A new car club has launched in North Solihull to provide local residents with the chance to try electric vehicles.

(Left to right) Gaurav Ahluwalia, marketing & customer engagement manager at E-Car Club and Councillor Ted Richards

Run by E-Car Club, part of Europcar Mobility Group, the scheme provides 18 Renault Zoe hatchbacks, which can be booked for an hour or several days at a time. Prices start from £3.50 per hour and £25 per day, and cars can be booked online or via the mobile app and accessed via members’ RFID cards.

The scheme is being supported by EIT Climate-KIC, Solihull Council and Solihull Community Housing Association (SCH).

Solihull Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, Councillor Ted Richards said: “This is a great opportunity for local residents to try electric cars cheaply. This pilot scheme lets people rent out cars for as little as an hour with no added extras. It is an easily accessible and flexible car rental offer which could make a real difference to local people’s lives – while also reducing emissions on our roads.”

Patrick Cresswell, managing director of E-Car Club, added: “We are delighted to give North Solihull residents the opportunity to integrate electric vehicles into their everyday lives through E-Car which offers a self-service, low cost and low emission car club. It’s a flexible solution for drivers who don’t want to commit to car ownership but need access to a car from time to time.

“We hope this scheme will encourage car owners to consider using the service as an alternative to vehicle ownership.  And that should result in fewer cars on the road, and ultimately reducing emissions and congestion.”