EV car clubs receives £500k boost

A bid to create electric vehicle car clubs across Wales has been handed a major funding boost by the National Lottery.

The Charge Up Wales project, which will set up the schemes in communities, will benefit from almost £500,000 with seven new community-owned car clubs will be established.

It is hoped the initiative will significantly reduce carbon emissions across Wales, provide more transport and connection opportunities for those without cars, and help families on lower incomes.

Clubs will be started in the communities of Brecon, Crickhowell, Upper Amman Valley, Kilgetty and Llanteg, Pennard, Pen Llyn, and Penygroes and Llanfyrnach. They will link up with existing car clubs as part of a campaign to create a Wales-wide network.

The national shared transport charity Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK) is the monitoring and evaluation partner on the project and hailed the funding award which it said will create greener transport opportunities in rural communities.

Richard Dilks, chief executive of CoMoUK, said: “This significant funding commitment from the National Lottery will bring positive change for communities across Wales. It will help create greener transport opportunities in rural communities and reduce carbon emissions across the country.

“And these electric vehicle car clubs will make vehicles accessible to those who may not otherwise be able to afford them, improve transport opportunities for people in hard-to-reach places, and present connection opportunities between different communities.
“Our research has found over the years that participation in car clubs encourages other positive behaviour change, such as increased cycling and walking and persuading people to give up their own private vehicles. That all makes a difference for physical and mental health, and saves significant sums of money for households.”