Scottish housing associations to get EV car hire clubs
Electric vehicle (EV) hire clubs will be set up at eight Scottish housing associations, following £510,000 of funding from the Scottish government.
The Plugged-in Households Grant Fund will help tenants, staff and other local residents rent EV and low-emission vehicles from the clubs, which will be operated by and administered by the Energy Saving Trust.
The fund, which launched for the first time in October 2018, has already created opportunities for people to drive low emission vehicles in Aberdeenshire, Elgin, Fife, Glasgow, Midlothian, Paisley and Orkney. In total, it’s claimed the clubs will now be available to over 100,000 households.
Cabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, said: ‘I’m delighted that this government has been able to provide more than half a million pounds to provide real alternatives to car ownership in local communities.
‘We have outlined a bold ambition to phase out the need for new petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2032. Like all new technology, we anticipate that prices for electric vehicles will drop over time, however, the benefits for air quality are so profound that we are taking steps now to extend access across the country through this scheme and many others.’
The housing associations to be supported include:
- Wheatley Group
- Queens Cross Housing Association
- Osprey Housing
- Orkney Housing Association
- Ore Valley Housing Association
- Melville Housing Association
- Linstone Housing Association
- Grampian Housing Association
Tom Barclay, Wheatley Group director of property and development, added: ‘At Wheatley, we share the Scottish Government’s commitment to making communities more sustainable.
‘The electric car club scheme is part of that commitment and we’re looking forward to rolling out the first cars for our tenants and staff in Glasgow to use.
‘Having these electric cars in 11 of our neighbourhoods will help some people get around in a more affordable and environmentally friendly way.’
