Co Wheels is leading the way with a new scheme to make shared electric cars available across Oxfordshire.

As well as new EVs in Oxford city, we are also setting up new electric only car share clubs in:

•    Abingdon – 2 cars in Cattle Market and West St Helens car parks

•    Banbury – 2 cars in Calthorpe Street West and Windsor Street car parks

•    Eynsham – in Back Lane car park

•    Henley – Greys Road car park

•    Wallingford – in Cattlemarket car park

•    Wantage – in Portway car park

•    Oxford – Redbridge park and ride

Oxford city is also getting new EVs at a new bay in Latimer Road and a replacement in Leckford Road. Plus three new back to zone petrol cars are coming to Summertown and New Marston this Spring.

All the new EVs are the ground breaking MG4, a four door, 5 seat family hatchback which has already won 15 awards including the title of UK Car of the Year and What Car Best Small EV. It has an average range of around 200 miles on mixed roads.

Co Wheels membership is required to use new vehicles, and residents living near the new EV car club locations can get free membership deals, click on the web links in the list above for more details.

Co Wheels has worked with Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and West Oxfordshire district councils for the new 12-month trial which will test demand for vehicles in areas of the county which have not had car clubs before.

The car in Henley will add to the two current hybrid petrol electrics to give people the choice of a full electric car, and the Oxford cars will extend the choice of EVs and bring cars to areas not previously served by the club.

The scheme gives people the chance to access an EV when they need one, without the expense of owning or leasing one outright. Car clubs can make it much more affordable for people who don’t drive every day and provide real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.

Jenny Figueiredo, Oxfordshire County Council’s EV Charging Project Manager, said: “Introducing EV car clubs right across the county is a key step in cutting our carbon emissions, as well as reducing the amount of individual vehicles on our roads and helping people to reduce the cost of living.

“Providing pay-per-use car sharing schemes like this makes it possible for people to consider giving up their own cars or second cars, and also to be more conscious of making an active decision about every journey they make.”

It is estimated that a successful car club vehicle can take on average 20 individually owned cars – often petrol or diesel vehicles – off the road.

Following on from the success that Oxford has seen with its growing network of car club vehicles around the city, the countywide pilot will assess demand for shared EVs and car club models across Oxfordshire.

Richard Falconer from Co Wheels said: “We have seen growing demand for shared vehicles – especially electric cars – in Oxford city as people realise that owning a car can damage your wallet as well as the environment.

“We think it is the ideal time to make zero emission cars available across the county as it has such a high level of residents who want to travel more sustainably. Oxfordshire is at the cutting edge of how we will use cars in future and is setting an example that other parts of the country will follow.” 

Most of the vehicles – which can be hired by the hour or by the day – are based at the recently installed Park and Charge EV charging hubs in district council owned car parks across the county.

There will also be a new EV car club vehicle at the Energy SuperHub at Redbridge park and ride in Oxford for the same trial period