An affordable car sharing scheme aimed at widening access to electric vehicles has been launched in Solihull.

It is part of the InclusivEV Demonstrator project, a 3.8 million euro pan-European project which aims to widen access to electric vehicles through an affordable car sharing scheme.

The aim is to prove that not only is EV hire affordable and financially viable but also that can it bring about social change and increased cohesion in areas of high deprivation and need.

The 18 Renault Zoe models will be operated by E-Car Club working in conjunction with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Solihull Community Housing, and will be available to hire from £3.50 an hour.

Solihull is the first InclusivEV site to go live, and will be followed by Modena, Italy, which will launch in 2019, and Valencia in Spain.

Supported by EIT Climate-KIC, InclusivEV is led by Cenex, partnering with E-Car Club, AESS Modena (the Modena Energy and Sustainable Development Agency), the University of Valencia and Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía (ITE).

Robert Evans, CEO at Cenex, said; “Accessibility is key to accelerating the switch away from fossil fuel vehicles, reducing emissions and therefore improving air quality, particularly in urban areas.

“The launch of the InclusivEV project in Solihull is a major step towards widening EV adoption, aiming to extend the benefits of electric vehicles to all in a cost-effective way, while introducing societal benefits in terms of greater mobility for residents.”