Tuesday May 21st 2024
People will be able to hire East Lothian Council's new electric pool cars when they are not being used.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
Members of the public will be able to hire out electric cars used by East Lothian Council workers at weekends, evenings and public holidays as part of a new pilot scheme.
The local authority has received funding to provide an additional five pool cars for staff for the next year.
And they have decided to test allowing the cars to be used by the public out of council office hours.
The pilot scheme comes after the council received funding from Transport Scotland who are working with suppliers Hiyacar to cover the £50,000 cost of having the cars for 12 months.
Residents who want to use the cars will be able to sign up to a new car club and pay as little as £4.50 an hour or £35 for a day’s hire.
East Lothian Provost John McMillan said opening the cars up for public use was an ‘exciting development’.
Councillor McMillan, who is the cabinet spokesperson for environment, economic development and tourism, said: “The launch of the new electric vehicle car club pilot is an exciting development, building on East Lothian’s very strong track record of supporting the transition to an electric future.
“It recognises that the need to take positive action to address the challenges of climate change and reduce emissions has never been more important. As well as being available for council employees to use in the course of their duties, I’m pleased that members of the public will have the opportunity to sign up and benefit from use of the electric car club fleet.”
The five new cars will be based across the county at different locations to make them available to staff and residents nearer their homes and will be in addition to the council’s current fleet of pool vehicles.
The council said the project aims to reduce its spending on both pool cars and mileage claims whilst reducing emissions.
If it proves successful then decisions will be made about whether it will continue after the one year pilot.
The cars will be based at Port Seton Centre, Port Seton; Haddington Long Stay Car Park; Loch Centre, Tranent; Prestonpans Community Centre, Prestonpans; The Bleachingfield Centre, Dunbar.
Anyone wanting to sign up to the car club can register at hiyacar.co.uk
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