Hackney Council launches EV ‘car club’ pilot
Hackney Council already operates a large car club fleet, which offers car transport to the many residents who don’t own their own vehicle. It currently has a 2026 target in place of ensuring that 50 per cent of its proposed 300 car club vehicles are EVs. With Hackney Council stating there is ‘more to come’ than the initial 15 EVs it is introducing, this initiative therefore marks a major step towards that goal. However, no information has been provided on which EVs Zipcar will deploy for the car club.
Sarah Young, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport, said: “I am really pleased that we’re offering residents inclusive affordable access to electric vehicles, which will get people used to driving and charging them. Shared electric vehicles are a win-win: they reduce air pollution and support equity for residents by adding to the affordable transport options, and support people who want to live car-free. This pilot is an important step in making sustainable transport the easy choice in Hackney.”
To support the deployment of the electric car club, charging operator Zest will help install a total of 35 new charging locations across Hackney borough. Each of these locations will feature two parking bays and two charging connections. One of the bays will be open to the public for charging, while the other will be reserved for electric car club vehicles. The council states the bays will be installed in every ward of Hackney.
Robin Heap, CEO of Zest, added: “We’re proud to partner with Hackney Council and Zipcar to deliver this industry leading initiative that makes access to electric vehicles convenient and equitable for the whole community. By combining reliable EV charging infrastructure with shared EV access, we’re building a future where greener transport is available to everyone—not just those who own a car.”
The EV car club and the new charging bays are being supported by the government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Pilot Fund, which has provided £1m worth of funding along with Zest.
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