Camden Council to offer residents electric vehicle car sharing from £3 per hourLondon : Connect by Hertz, the global car sharing club from Hertz, has placed London’s lowest cost electric club car in the London Borough of Camden, following its win of the country’s first competitive tender for an all electric car club scheme. A Citroën C1 evie, which runs entirely on renewable energy provided by the charging point, and is produced by the Britain-based Electric Car Corporation, has been placed on-street at Lincolns Inn Fields for just £3.00 per hour to drive. The lowest cost electric car driving rates include insurance, maintenance, cleaning, and roadside assistance. To celebrate the launch, Connect by Hertz will be offering free membership worth £50 for Camden residents, who simply need to enter the code 1122 when signing up at www.connectbyhertz.com
The launch of Connect by Hertz was originally backed by London Mayor Boris Johnson in December 2008. The electric car, supported by Camden Council – unlike hybrid vehicles – will run entirely on battery which users can charge at no cost at any Elektromotive bay in Camden. The car will be placed on the central site of Lincoln’s Inn Fields near Holborn, providing a convenient travel solution for residents, tourists and business professionals needing to get around London quickly and efficiently.
With a driving distance of up to 60 miles per charge and exemption from London’s Congestion Charge, the Citroën C1 evie is perfect for journeys across town. The vehicle has keyless entry via a smart chip-enabled Connect Card and is also kitted out with iPod/MP3 player connectivity. While in the vehicle, members can request assistance from the Member Care Centre via the in-car communications system.
Michel Taride, President, Hertz International, commented: “We’re very excited to be partnering with such a forward-thinking Borough and introducing this innovative technology to Camden’s residents, businesses and visitors. Camden Council has shown great commitment to car clubs, and was one of the first Boroughs to have car club vehicles on its streets. Both Camden Council and Connect by Hertz share a vision for the future of car sharing and electric vehicles are very much at the heart of this.”
Councillor Chris Knight, Executive Member for Environment, Camden Council said: “The planning and development of transport in Camden is extremely important, with road traffic currently the biggest source of air pollution in London. An electric vehicle car club is an extremely valuable option for the eco-conscious driver, and for cutting emissions and the number of cars on our streets.
Eased congestion and a reduction in pollution will be a huge benefit for everyone living in or visiting the London Borough of Camden. Car clubs have already been a big hit in the Borough and we’re excited to be leading the way in helping London become the electric capital of Europe.”
Camden Council has been setting the standard for green initiatives in London, with the council aiming to reduce congestion in the Borough by 15% in 2012. The council has also introduced car-free housing on a greater scale than many other Boroughs, with planning permission granted for 5,776 car free and car-capped housing units.
Camden Council plans to place additional Connect by Hertz vehicles in the Borough as well as expanding the scheme across other locations.
