The E-Car scheme will extend to North Oxford with a further two LEAFs later this autumn, with vehicles rented for around £5.50 per hour with access given via a smart card and pin code. Customers can make bookings online, by phone or mobile, and the service is aimed at reducing travel costs for private and corporate travellers.

Each local club will be set up in partnership with the community in which it based, supported by low carbon groups, to ensure they can offer vehicles appropriate to those most likely to use them.

Barry Beeston, Nissan’s fleet sales director, said: ‘We welcome the launch of E-Car as it makes LEAF accessible to a number of consumers and business users who previously may not have had access to an electric vehicle. E-Car has some excellent corporate services set up which are increasingly important as companies aim to reduce their carbon footprint.

E-Car chairman Andrew Wordsworth said he was hoping to grow the network further over the coming months. ‘We believe E-Car is being launched at a very exciting time for motorists as many want to experiment with driving an electric car before they make the decision to own one,’ he said.