Cookies

We use essential cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. These will be set only if you accept.

For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our cookies page.

Essential Cookies

Essential cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. For example, the selections you make here about which cookies to accept are stored in a cookie.

You may disable these by changing your browser settings, but this may affect how the website functions.

Analytics Cookies

We'd like to set Google Analytics cookies to help us improve our website by collecting and reporting information on how you use it. The cookies collect information in a way that does not directly identify you.

Third Party Cookies

Third party cookies are ones planted by other websites while using this site. This may occur (for example) where a Twitter or Facebook feed is embedded with a page. Selecting to turn these off will hide such content.

Skip to main content

Community Led Electric Car and Bike Club - Survey Launched

By Katharine Harrod Malborough Parish Council

Friday, 23 July 2021

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Malborough Parish Council Contributor

VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR

Received from South Hams District Council:

Local residents, businesses and community organisations are being asked for their views on establishing a community-led electric car and bike club for the South Hams via a short online survey.

The survey is being promoted by South Hams District Council and would give affordable access to electric cars for everyone, whilst also supporting the shift to zero carbon transport.

South Hams District Council declared a Climate Change and Biodiversity Emergency on 21 May 2019 and the Council is working hard to reduce the District's carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. As part of that aim, the Council continues to work with partners to drive forward that commitment.

Since the announcement of the Government's 2030 ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles, interest in electric cars has surged by 500%. However, they remain too expensive for many people. In addition, one third of households cannot charge a car at home.

An electric car club would address these challenges by locating cars across the District, bookable from as little as half an hour for one all-inclusive price. This would give members access to electric cars without having to own one.

Furthermore, by switching to using an electric car club and getting rid of a little used personal vehicle, members could save money whilst also helping reduce issues related to congestion, parking and pollution.

The survey also asks if respondents would be interested in an electric bike share scheme. Because they are electrically assisted, the bikes are a great alternative to the car for many shorter trips including commuting, everyday errands and leisure trips.

South Hams District Council's Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, Cllr Tom Holway, said: This could be a fantastic scheme that would make electric transport accessible to everyone. Not everyone has the means to buy this type of technology and this really could offer South Hams' residents the opportunity to have access to electric technology. I urge residents to share their views on this exciting scheme in the survey."

The survey is available at https://bit.ly/ElectricSHams and is open until 24 August 2021.

The survey is being run in partnership with Co Cars car club, a social enterprise that has an established network of low and zero emission cars across the South West. The company also runs the Co Bikes electric bike sharing scheme. The results of the survey will not only help establish the viability of the project but will also be shared with South Hams District Council to assist their planning.

Mark Hodgson, Managing Director of Co Cars, said: "Over the last 12 months, we have seen a huge surge of interest in our shared, electric cars and bikes from communities across the region.

"We're really excited to see if we can bring them to the South Hams as they would give people access to the latest technology at an affordable price, helping them save money and hassle when compared to owning a car."

Contact Information

Katharine Harrod

  • 07704 941150

Find Malborough Parish Council

169 Cumber Close, Malborough, Malborough, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 3DE

DIRECTIONS