Europcar Mobility Group UK has invested in a fleet of Renault Zoe electric cars and charging points at its Oxford rental station, helping drivers avoid Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) charges.

Europcar has made Renault Zoe electric cars available for customers for those who wish to travel through the city centre at Oxford

The city’s pilot scheme went live in February this year, levying charges of up to £10 per vehicle per day on a small number of streets in the city centre. A first for the UK, the trial will allow Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council to gain insights before introducing a larger ZEZ covering most of Oxford city centre next year, subject to further public consultation.

Responding to the scheme, Europcar has made Renault Zoe electric cars available for customers for those who wish to travel through the city centre, giving them peace of mind and ensuring they don’t fall foul of any fees or penalty charges. It’s also installed four electric vehicle charging points at its Oxford rental station, close to the city’s railway station.

Ron Santiago, managing director at Europcar Mobility Group UK, commented: “As part of Oxford City’s bid to reduce air pollution and to encourage both residents and visitors to make positive changes to the way they travel around the city, Europcar is pleased to be able to provide a sustainable and flexible travel option with our electric rental cars, which we can now charge for customers using our own charging facilities.”

He continued: “It is another step in our ‘One Sustainable Fleet’ programme’ which aims to have green vehicles account for 20% of our fleet by the end of 2024.”