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The Independent
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Independent
Space freed up by car clubs could nearly cover Hyde Park, analysis finds
Space almost equivalent to the size of London's Hyde Park is freed up by short-term car rental schemes, according to a report. Analysis by shared transport charity CoMoUK found non-corporate users of UK car clubs last year said they had sold or deferred purchasing a total of nearly 120,000 vehicles since they joined. Based on the typical size of parking spaces, these private cars would have occupied an area exceeding 138 hectares. Hyde Park is about 142 hectares. The analysis also found each car club vehicle replaces an average of 27 private cars. UK car clubs open to the public had 307,437 active users last year, up 1% from 2023. Their fleet size in 2024 was 4,383 vehicles, a 3% decrease from the previous 12 months. The schemes give people access to cars without the costs or other obligations of ownership. Most operate on a membership basis with annual or monthly fees, plus per mile and per hour charges for using cars on a pay as you go basis. Separately, some companies give their employees access to corporate car clubs for business and personal travel. CoMoUK chief executive Richard Dilks said: 'Car clubs provide hassle-free, inclusive and affordable access to cars for journeys when they are really needed, so it is no wonder that they are proving more and more popular. 'Our research shows that car clubs replace private cars with a much smaller number of more efficiently-used vehicles. 'As well as improving air quality and cutting traffic congestion, the reduced need for private car storage frees up an astonishing amount of space which can be used for other purposes. 'In London, for example, this space could be used to provide homes for approximately 6,000 people.' Mr Dilks added that 'much more could be done to encourage car clubs to thrive', and he called on governments and local authorities to 'go further to foster environments where car clubs can grow'.
Auto Express
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
EV affordability alarm! Running costs are £6k higher than for petrol cars, say car clubs
Car sharing clubs are raising the alarm over worsening EV affordability, and for the first time have reduced the proportion of electric vehicles on their fleets. Car clubs are membership organisations typically offering pay-as-you-go access to shared vehicles, reducing the need for users to buy their own cars. There are around 5,500 car club vehicles operating in the UK currently and 350,000 active users, with the majority in London. As environmental and net zero challenges continue to bite in cities across the UK, some think car clubs have the potential for a much bigger future. Advertisement - Article continues below Yet new data from a charity working in the shared transport sector, CoMoUK, reveals that in 2024 the proportion of EVs in car club fleets dropped to 30 per cent from 35 per cent in 2023. The charity calls this 'a marked decline, and the first time on record that the share of EVs within car clubs has fallen'. Rising costs facing operators are being blamed for reducing the appetite for EVs in the sector. These include higher charging fees at public charging stations, as well as hard-hitting changes to policies around vehicle excise duty that removed EV exemptions from April this year. As a result of all the factors affecting affordability, CoMoUK calculates that running an EV costs car share clubs an average of £6,276 more per year than a petrol equivalent. 'The fall in the proportion of electric vehicles within UK car club fleets is unprecedented and concerning, and illustrates the intense cost pressures being faced by operators,' says CoMoUK's chief executive Richard Dilks. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'Car clubs have led the way in the shift to electric, and when you consider that only 4 per cent of privately-owned vehicles are EVs, they are still way ahead in this regard. 'However, there is a risk that this good progress will be lost unless action is taken at both a local and national level to ensure that operators aren't being unfairly penalised,' he adds. CoMoUK is calling for a range of measures to improve affordability, but suggests there's also an education gap. Its research shows some car club users have concerns about charging, range and lack a general understanding of how EVs work. Advertisement - Article continues below Car club operators are queuing up to add their voices to CoMoUK's demands for more investment in car sharing infrastructure such as dedicated parking bays, as well as measures to reduce operating costs. Zipcar boss James Taylor says that since 2018 his firm has provided access to EVs for 170,000 drivers, but that 'progress will be stalled' without action to reduce costs. Richard Falconer of Co Wheels agrees, saying: 'We want to use more EVs due to the environmental benefits, but they cost more to run than petrol vehicles, as the government adds VAT at 20 per cent for commercial electricity instead of the 5 per cent VAT on domestic electric. If the government wants to encourage the switch to electric vehicles, they need to change the rules to make pricing the same as EV owners who charge at home.' Chief technology officer at Hiyacar Marc Roberts said: 'EVs are a critical tool in the fight against climate change, however, the transition is being slowed by a persistent affordability gap. Until EVs become more cost-competitive, we risk delaying the full environmental benefits they can deliver.' Tell us what you love (and hate) about your car. Take the Driver Power survey now and you could win a £1,000 John Lewis voucher ... Find a car with the experts Ford should bring back the Fiesta. Oh no it shouldn't! Ford should bring back the Fiesta. Oh no it shouldn't! Bringing back the Ford Fiesta is a genius move, or a potential catastrophe Car Deal of the Day: Volvo XC60 Black Edition is a mean-looking, posh SUV for under £450 a month Car Deal of the Day: Volvo XC60 Black Edition is a mean-looking, posh SUV for under £450 a month The XC60 is Volvo's best-selling car, and loved by Brits. It's our Deal of the Day for 6 May Car Deal of the Day: The almighty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for under £500 per month Car Deal of the Day: The almighty Hyundai Ioniq 5 N for under £500 per month Our Deal of the Day for 4 May is the reigning Auto Express Performance Car of the Year
