Car clubs – encouraging electric vehicle adoption?

Local Authorities, through LSTF or other funding sources have clear objectives to encourage more sustainable travel and promote economic growth. Plans to increase walking and cycling levels are commonplace and initiatives and schemes well developed. Similarly there is a history of promotions and incentives to encourage a shift from single occupancy car travel to public transport, particularly for commuter trips.

It is important to recognize that for some trips, car travel will remain the most efficient mode. Developments in vehicle technology, while not addressing traffic congestion, have led to lower emissions and more efficient use of fuel. The average CO2 emissions of new vehicles has fallen from 190 g/km in 1997 to 138 g/km in 2011. Similarly, the average fuel consumption of new vehicles purchased in 2011 was 23% lower than in 2000. As hybrid, range extended hybrid and Electric Vehicles (EVs) become more mainstream these figures will improve further.

There are, however, barriers to mainstream adoption of more efficient vehicles, which are well known – cost, primarily and in the case of pure EVs range anxiety and infrastructure are all commonly cited.

Car clubs provide easy, cost effective access to modern efficient vehicles, including vehicles with CO2 missions lower than 100g/km, hybrids and EVs. Car clubs are particularly attractive in urban areas, where public transport walking and cycling can replace the car for commuting and a car club car can replace a first car for occasional car based trips.  For more rural or suburban areas where the public transport network is less developed, the car club car can potentially replace a less used second car.

Car clubs provide a great opportunity for individuals and businesses to experience EV technology first hand, in their own time, without the pressure of a salesman or commitment to purchase. Indeed, car club operators are actively pursuing EV technology, with the first Vauxhall Ampere in the country sold to a car club and available for use by the public in London.  There has also recently been a test of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by an Aberdeen based car club.

Steer Davies Gleave are at the forefront of advising local authorities to help understanding the market for car clubs. We work with clients across the UK helping to better appreciate the potential for car clubs, and inform strategies for developing a car club network.  We have worked for clients including Transport for London, London boroughs, local authorities and the Scottish Government.  Our work for local authorities also includes advising on EV strategies. This work includes analysis of the propensity of the market to take up EVs and recommendations to best facilitate underlying potential demand. We then work in partnership with technology providers to provide the complete EV solution.

Matthew Clark manages our Sustainable Transport team, and is a board member of Carplus.