Electric vehicle (EV) car club pilot

A pilot of shared electric car club vehicles across the county to use on a pay-per-use basis.

From April 2023  to October 2024, Oxfordshire County Council worked  with City and District Councils and a number of commercial car club operators to run a pilot of shared electric vehicles (EVs) across the county. 

In areas where the pilot has been successful, car club vehicles will remain in place into the future.  The fully battery electric vehicles in the scheme have a range of 150-250 miles and are available for residents to use on a pay-per-use basis for as little as an hour and up to a few days. Costs can start from just £5 per hour plus a per-mile charge. 

Three car club operators have provided the vehicles in the scheme:

Vehicle locations

The pay-per-use vehicles that remain available in Oxfordshire due to the pilot scheme are at the following locations.  Click on the links to find out more about prices, introductory offers and how to book:

  • Abingdon – Cattle Market car park, OX14 3JT (currently hybrid vehicle with a view to switching to EV in the future – temporarily located in Audlett Drive car park during refurbishment works) - book via Co Wheels website 
  • Abingdon – West St Helens car park, OX14 5BU (currently hybrid vehicle with a view to switching to EV in the future) - book via Co Wheels website
  • Banbury – Calthorpe Street West car park (OX16 5EX) - book via Zimbl website
  • Banbury – Windsor Street car park (OX16 5AS) - book via Zimbl website
  • Bicester – Claremont car park (OX26 6PH) – book via Co Wheels website
  • Chipping Norton – New Street car park -  (OX7 5LJ) book via Zimbl website
  • Eynsham – Back Lane car park (OX29 4QP) (currently hybrid vehicle with a view to switching to EV in the very near future) – book via Co Wheels website
  • Henley – Greys Road car park (RG9 2AA)- book via Co Wheels website
  • Oxford  - Redbridge Park and Ride (OX1 4XG) - two vehicles available; book via Co Wheels website or Zimbl website 
  • Thame – Upper High Street (OX9 2DW) – COMING SOON via Co Wheels 
  • Wallingford – Cattlemarket car park (OX10 0HF) - (currently hybrid vehicle with a view to switching to EV in the very near future) book via Co Wheels website
  • Woodstock – Hensington Road car park (OX20 1JQ) - book via Zimbl website
  • Witney – Woodford Way car park (OX28 6GF) - book via Enterprise CarClub website

Other car club schemes are available across the County – including community-run and peer-to-peer options.  Check out websites such as Co Wheels, Zimbl,Enterprise CarClub, Hiyacar, Hooky Car Club or the CoMoUk website

We would like to see this car club network expand in the future, pending funding. You can use an interactive mapping tool on our Let's Talk platform to let us know where you would like to see car clubs in your local area.

You might even want to consider setting up your own community car club by encouraging local people to share their own EVs via peer-to-peer car-sharing apps such as Hiyacar and Karshare.

About car clubs

Car clubs offer a convenient and affordable alternative to car ownership. These fully electric cars have zero tailpipe emissions and are much better for the environment than petrol or diesel alternatives. They can also allow people with petrol/diesel cars to try out an electric vehicle without an ongoing commitment.

Costs

Full details of pricing can be found on the car club websites. Costs per hour can be as little as £5 or £6. There is normally a per-mile cost too, which can be as little as 12p per mile when you drive electric. Annual membership fees will apply but some car clubs run promotions which provide free membership.

About the cars

All electric vehicles are automatic. Full instructions on how to use the vehicle will be provided when you book (or in the vehicle itself). The car club operator websites have lots of useful explainer videos.

The cars will be fully charged when collected, and you need to plug them back in when you return. Instructions on how to do this are on the website or in the vehicle. All the vehicles are based at charging hubs in Oxfordshire, where they will have an allocated parking bay with a fast EV charger. Unless you are travelling some distance, you will unlikely need to charge any of the vehicles during your hiring session. 

Businesses

Enterprise CarClub, Zimbl and Co Wheels offer corporate membership schemes, which enable staff to use car club vehicles similarly to pool vehicles for occasional work journeys.