Scotland’s ‘largest’ electric car club launched

Fleet of 10 ‘zero emission’ electric vehicles now available in St Andrews to hire by the hour

A fleet of 10 zero emission electric vehicles are now available for St Andrews residents to hire by the hour after the launch of Scotland’s ‘largest’ community e-car club, which it is hoped will help improve the town’s air quality.

St Andrews E-Car Club launch (LR): Ben Fletcher, Renault; Patrick Cresswell, E-Car Club; Derek Watson, Quaestor and Factor of the University of St Andrews;
Matt Eastwood, Carplus; Patrick Laughlin, St Andrews Partnership

Car hire firm E-Car Club launched the scheme in the Scottish town’s central Church Square this week (April 14) together with Transport Scotland and the University of St Andrews.

The electric fleet available for residents and businesses to hire includes eight Renault ZOE hatchbacks and two Renault Kangoo vans, making it Scotland’s more densely populated electric vehicle town, according to E-Car Club.

The vehicles can be hired for up to several days and can be collected from three locations – Agnes Blackadder Halls, The Gateway at North Haugh, and David Russell Apartments.

On one charge, the cars are said to generally travel around 65-90 miles, which puts the likes of Dundee and Edinburgh within reach.

Scottish Minister for Transport and Islands, Derek Mackay, said: “It is really exciting to see the nation’s first all EV car club launch in St Andrews, funded in part by the £1 million announced last summer for EVs in car clubs through the ‘Developing Car Clubs in Scotland’ programme.

“This community based project will also help improve air quality in this popular tourist town while encouraging more use of EVs in general.  I wish the new car club success in the future and look forward to more clubs following this example of good practice.”

E-Car Club members usually pay a £50 one-off joining fee for access to the scheme — with rental prices starting at £4.50 per hour or £35 per day (24 hours), including power and insurance.

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 St Andrews.

“St Andrews has an active sustainability agenda combined with some complex mobility needs. As a relatively remote community car ownership is naturally seen by many as essential, yet its historic layout and compact size have led to ever increasing congestion and parking pressure.

“E-Car is a low cost, flexible and environmentally sustainable transport option which we are confident will prove popular with the local community, university students and tourists alike.”

One of the Renault electrc vehicles available for hire in St Andrews as part of the E-Car Club scheme