London to have 300 EVs for car-sharing

Zipcar's all electric e-Golf car-share (source: airqualitynews.com)

The car-sharing business, Zipcar, is to roll out over 300 Volkswagen e-Golf electric cars to its London fleet from July 2018. To achieve healthier, cleaner streets, as set out in the Mayor of London’s latest Transport Strategy, this change away from car ownership towards electric car access is essential.

Car sharing networks such as Zipcar see members pay an annual or monthly fee which allows them to hire a car on a short term basis, often for as little as one hour, which can be picked up from designated parking spots.

Choice, an Australian magazine, estimates that car-sharing becomes cost effective if you drive 5000 kilometres or less per year. Thus some people living in city centres or who drive less are considering car sharing rather than car ownership.

Choice says that studies show:
- for each shared car on the road, anywhere from four to 13 cars are taken off the road,
- car-sharing has been shown to reduce traffic and parking congestion,
- car-sharing reduces the number of kilometres travelled,
- car-sharing increases the use of public transport, cycling, and walking.

References:
Zipcar to roll-out 300 EVs across London. AirQualityNews.com, May 30, 2018.
What changed in the electric vehicle industry in May? CleanTechnica, June 11, 2018.
Car share services: should you jump on the car-sharing bandwagon? Choice, April 21, 2015.
See also in this blog:
Electric car-sharing in Copenhagen.