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Car clubs could a be good shop window for encouraging the trial and uptake of electric vehicles, new research has claimed.
According to a study by Enterprise Car Club, 20% of its members have driven an EV with almost half (47%) saying they did so because they were curious about trying out a battery-powered vehicle.
In addition, just over a third (35%) of the 1,000 respondents said they took an EV because they wanted a more environmentally-friendly transport option, while 86% said they would be happy to use a shared EV as part of their car club membership.
"Rental is a great way for people to experiment with new vehicles and new technologies. A lot of people are interested in EVs but, given the cost, might be unwilling to buy one without an extensive trial," said Dan Gursel, managing director of Enterprise Car Club "Car clubs give them that option - and also alleviate a lot of the concerns that still exist over EVs, such as range and charging infrastructure, because those cars are hired by the hour. That means they tend to be used for short trips in and around cities where there's going to be access to charging points.
Gursel added: "EVs also add an extra level of sustainability to car clubs, which are already among the most environmentally-friendly and cost-effective ways to get around by car: the vehicles are always new, regularly maintained and low-emission.
Think-tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) recently called on the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to include car clubs in his Transport Strategy, due later this year, which will set out his goals for transport in the capital between now and 2031.
IPPR said private hire company Uber "is just a first glimpse of the size of the revolution that digital technologies will unleash on London's transport system" and said the advent of driverless cars and car clubs could bring further changes to how Londoners get around.
According to IPPR, the capital is at a junction between two futures: one where the transport network is congested, dirty air fills the streets and the cost of getting around increases and one where the new technology is embraced, which will apparently help to reduce journey times and pollution.
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