Wind power supports E-Car Club electrified vehicles in Hebrides
Two people found this useful
Wind power is supporting ten fresh electrical vehicles for hire in the Outer Hebrides as part of the E-Car Club car sharing scheme.
Much of the electro-therapy will be generated by the Pentland Road wind farm near Stornoway. The nine Zoe hatchbacks and a Kangoo Van Z.E. have been introduced into the remote region through the partnership inbetween E-Car Club and the wind farm operators.
The joint venture brings affordable, zero carbon transport to the area and underlines the suitability of electrical vehicles in rural as well as urban environments, with the public being able to hire the innovative models on an hourly or daily basis from a number of locations across the town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
Pay per use scheme E-Car Club chose the Zoe and Kangoo Van Z.E. for the Outer Hebrides following the success it has experienced with the models at its other nationwide locations.
The six turbines will supply sufficient electric current to meet the entire domestic stream of the Outer Hebrides.
Almost seven hundred households in the Newvalley, Guershader and Laxdale Lane, Sheshader, Knock and Swordale, and Stornoway General communities will also receive fifty per cent of the biannual lease payments made by Pentland Road Windfarm to the Stornoway Trust as landlord, while there will also be agreed annual payments to the Western Isles Development Trust.
Ben Fletcher, Renault UK`s electrified vehicle product manager, said: «This deal underlines that Renault is a leader in the fast-growing EV sector and the rapidly-increasing popularity that our vehicles have with car sharing clubs and the general public alike. As well as suggesting residents and tourists a fine way to save money and help improve air quality, the car sharing scheme flawlessly illustrates that our electrified suggesting has the range and ease of use – not to mention driving pleasure – that makes it ideal for all kinds of drivers in all types of areas.»
Those living in or visiting the Outer Hebrides will be able hire one of the Renault Zoes from E-Car Club for £Five.50 per hour or £45 per day (24 hours). Power and insurance are both included in the price. The Kangoo panel van is available for £7.50 per hour or £60 per day.
In its drive to help combat congestion, reduce parking and enhance local mobility in an environmentally-friendly and affordable way, E-Car Club has over twenty locations across the UK with several more in the pipeline.
Chris Morris, managing director of E-Car Club said: «I`m delighted to be able to officially announce the launch of E-Car Club in the Outer Hebrides. This is an exceptionally titillating project combining collective e-mobility with renewable power generation in what is undoubtedly a landmark sustainable transport project both in Scotland and around the world.»
«The Islands are a flawless fit for electrical car sharing with a community who are already committed to a sustainable lifestyle and current car use limited to relatively brief journeys and a frequency which does not always justify private ownership.»
«The intention of E-Car is to provide everyone living in, working in or visiting the region with access to supple, low cost transport whilst at the same time minimising their environmental influence in what is a truly stunning part of the world.»