Zipcar expands its electric fleet in London
Car-sharing platform Zipcar’s central London fleet will soon include 50 new Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrids, as part of a partnership between Westminster City Council and Volkswagen UK. The new plug-in VWs will be available for £7 per hour, and will benefit from new charging bays installed by Westminster City Council at 40 of the platform’s parking spots.

Originally published on EV Obsession.

As part of a new partnership with Westminster City Council and Volkswagen UK, Zipcar’s London fleet will now include 50 brand-new Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrids, according to an email sent to CleanTechnica and EV Obsession.

The new Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) can be rented for £7 an hour — the same rate that the gas-powered Volkswagen Golf can be rented from Zipcar in London.

The 50 new PHEVs will be located primarily in the City of Westminster — with 40 of the cars located there, and 10 elsewhere (Old Oak, Tower Bridge, etc). As part of the partnership, Westminster City has installed charging bays at 40 of the car club’s parking spots.

“By making the innovative Volkswagen Golf GTE available to Zipcar members at the same hourly rate of £7 per hour as a petrol Volkswagen Golf, members have another compelling reason to choose zero-emission vehicles for their urban trips. It will also mean thousands of Zipcar members will experience electric driving for the first time,” the email states.

“The appeal of the Volkswagen Golf GTE is that it is a technologically advanced car with a superior engine and yet is as familiar to drive as the petrol Golf. When started, it will automatically default to electric vehicle mode. All 50 cars support Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto so that members can enjoy phone features such as maps or music through the GTE’s in-built display.”

Westminster City Council cabinet member for parking and sustainability, Heather Acton, commented: “Electric vehicles are key to helping address pollution. Giving more people the chance to drive an electric car in London, and on a shared basis, is a big step towards creating a greener city…. Car sharing makes so much sense in central London, where a private car is not often needed.”

Photo by Zach Shahan | EV Obsession | CleanTechnica

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