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Give up your car to rent an electric one for £4 an hour
Ruth Bloomfield07.07.09
Thousands of Londoners were today urged to give up their cars in an attempt to make the capital more environmentally friendly.
Westminster council has pledged to make 400 cars — about a third of which will be electric or hybrid models — available on the streets of central London by 2012.
Any drivers will be allowed to use the cars, not just Westminster residents, if they join the council's car club, and officials hope thousands of Londoners will be keen to rent a vehicle to drive in the city for £3.95 an hour.
The first fleet was unveiled today, including an electric Citroën C1, 20 hybrid cars including Toyota Prius and Honda Insight models, as well as 53 petrol cars including a BMW 318 and a Mini Cooper.
Westminster will have more than 100 cars available to club members by September in bays across Covent Garden, Mayfair, Soho, Regent's Park and Marylebone.
Car club members forgo driving their own vehicles and instead rent one at a discount rate. Latest research shows that for every car club vehicle made available, up to 20 people will give up their private cars, and that car club members reduce their mileage by up to 40 per cent.
The council has spent almost £200,000 on the project, £50,000 of which has been given by Transport for London. Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster's city management chief, said: “The launch of our car club marks a historic step towards the evolution of the way motorists travel within our capital and offers an environmentally friendly improvement to London's pressured transport system.”
Club members pay an annual membership of £25. They will be charged for using the cars under a pay as you go tariff. Hourly rates start at £3.95 and daily rates at £39 — including the congestion charge. There is a 60-mile daily driving allowance.
Westminster is committed to increasing electric car use and already has more than 60 charging points. It also offers drivers of electric cars free parking.
Last month Camden council launched a car club scheme featuring a hybrid car, an adapted Toyota Prius available from £5.95 an hour.
Reader views (8)
So.... the spaces for these cars come from under utilised old style meter bays? He said this would have no impact on parking, and then tells motorbikes that there is a huge pressure and no space available? (Unless of course they pay, then it's magically there...) So... encouraging cars but dissuading bikes.
Good logic Chalkley, and a nicely transparent example of your desire to rake in money from all quarters.
And to the companies who have invested time and effort in car clubs as encouraged to do so by local authorities? Watch as Chalkley takes your hard work and turns it into a council revenue scheme.
By the way, did you ever novate that contract when NCP demerged in March 2007, or have they been issuing tickets and penalties illegally for the past couple of years?
- Charlie, London UK
At £4 per hour, how can the man on the street affort to pay this ? Even a company would struggle if needed 40 hours per week.
- Derek Flint, london
We are all missing the point here, no matter what the car is made of, there will always be traffic jams and congestions as with parking problems.
- Joe, Swanley Kent
Westminster should kick start the infrastructure.
e.g more charging points,Lpg,Hydrogen fuel.
Park & ride scheme(with a full travel day pass for all passengers) More buses & conductors/travel helpers.
This all in conjunction with other interested parties.
- Sm, London
Why does everyone think electric cars are green? Electricity does not grow on trees. Now hydrogen cars is a real green solution
- Gary, Brentwood
"A good idea for high density city centres, but elsewhere it is not a runner."
I'm not sure it's even a good idea for a city centre. Electric cars are nearly as bad for congestion and inefficient use of road space as petrol/diesel ones, the only plus point is they're generally smaller. Still nowhere near as good as a decent bus or tram.
- Tom, London, UK
A good idea for high density city centres, but elsewhere it is not a runner.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
Why should any local authority get into the car rental business? Their role is to ensure that local services and facilities are in full working order, that children can get places at good schools, that refuse is collected weekly (yes weekly) and that no one jumps the benefit queue. Leave car rental to the car rental people.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
