Merton to subsidise electric car club membership

Merton council is providing residents with a year’s membership to the Bluecity electric car club, in a bid to encourage zero emission travel within the borough.

Merton residents will be among the first in the capital to use the service after the council agreed with Bluecity, which provides the electric ‘point-to-point’ car-sharing service.

Councillor Martin Whelton with one of Merton’s electric car charging points

People living or working in Merton can subscribe via Bluecity’s website and redeem a year’s free membership which usually costs £5 per month. Members pay 17p for every minute that they use the service.

Those subscribed to the service use a mobile phone app to book an available car and to secure a parking berth, with a charge point, once they have reached their destination.

Charging network

Merton already has a network of 21 on-street electric vehicle charge points, including in residential streets. This is expected to grow to 50 over the coming months. Bluecity members will be able to rent or return a vehicle to any of these charge points.

Councillor Martin Whelton, Merton council’s cabinet member for regeneration, environment and housing, said: “We know, that with the rest of the country, we have to make every effort to ensure the air in Merton is a clean as it can be.

“Expanding our network of electric charging points gives residents and visitors to the borough greater opportunity to travel in a more environmentally-friendly way.”