Wednesday, 8th July 2009
ELECTRIC cars are set to become a common sight on central London roads with the launch of a second pay-as-you-go scheme yesterday.
Car-hire firm Zipcar have teamed up with Westminster Council to offer either fully-electric Citroen cars or part-electric Honda and Toyota hybrids instead of their usual petrol machines.
Members of Zipcar will be able to hire the electric cars for £29 a day.
By 2012, Zipcar and the council - which is putting £200,000 into the scheme - hope to have over 100 electric-based cars tootling around town.
"Westminster residents [will get] convenient and low-cost access to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to encourage adoption of the most efficient and environmentally friendly cars on the planet," said Zipcar boss Scott Griffith.
A few weeks ago Streetcar, Zipcar's short-term hire rival, unveiled its own leccy-car scheme, this time in association with Camden council. Streetcar members can get their mitts on a plug-in Amberjac Prius for £5.95 an hour.
Boris Johnson is also on the case.
The London Mayor has worked with major companies like DHL and Sainsburys to get them to use more electric cars and vans in their fleets.
"We are now going to work hand in hand with fleet owners to accelerate the take-up of electric vehicles, which are available to buy right now," said Johnson.
Post new comment