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Boris launches electric car hire scheme

David Williams
15 Jun 2009


Britain's first electric car hire scheme was launched in London today. Run by Streetcar, the UK's largest pay-as-you-go Car Club, the scheme will allow members to rent an adapted Toyota Prius from £5.95 an hour.

The £36,000 "Amberjac" version of the Prius is part of a trial into environmentally friendly transport, backed by Boris Johnson and Camden council.

If the experiment proves a success with club members, the organisers say they aim to roll out more electrically-powered cars across the capital to meet demand.

The joint initiative between Camden council and Transport for London will see the Prius become one of Streetcar's 1,200 pay-as-you-go vehicles for its 58,000 members.

Brett Akker, Streetcar's co-founder, said: "Our members are expected to rise to 250,000 by 2012 as more and more people recognise the environmental and cost benefits of joining a car club.

"Once they have joined we want to offer them the best possible service and our members will be the first people in Europe to hire a car with this electric technology."

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