Pay-as-you-go cars: Sunderland plans eco-friendly car-sharing scheme

 The city council has advertised off-street parking orders that would create specially-reserved bays as part of a ‘car club’, which provides vehicles that drivers can use as and when they need one.

 Durham-based social enterprise Co-wheels is working with the North East Combined Authority to provide a fleet of 20 cars on the region’s roads and is looking at working with Nexus to integrate its service with the existing Pop smart travel ticket.

 The firm plans to provide cars close to Park Lane and Millfield Metro Stations and on the University of Sunderland’s Chester Road campus by the end of March, including two Toyota Aygos, a Toyota Yaris hybrid and an electric Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf.

 Coun Michael Mordey, the council’s Portfolio Holder for City Services, said: “The public notice is the first stage in the proposed introduction of the sustainable transport Car Club scheme into the city,” he said.

 “This is a regionally supported project which local authorities, including Sunderland, are working with partners to deliver at local community level.

 “A car club offers low cost eco-friendly car hire to residents and businesses, with economy and low-emission vehicles available for people to hire on a pay-as-you-go basis from strategic transport locations.”

 Co-wheels - how it works:

Co-wheels car club has its head office in Durham, but is a national car club with more than 50 locations across the UK. Co-wheels is the UK’s only independently run national car club, and a social enterprise.

The car club pay an annual fee which them to hire cars on a pay-as-you-go basis, with insurance and fuel included. Cars are parked in dedicated locations, and can be booked on-line and unlocked with a smartcard.

Co-wheels already running successful car clubs in Newcastle and Gateshead, and expansion is planned across the North East Combined Authority area this year.

Hire is charged for the time period of the entire booking (not just driving time), plus mileage. The firm’s system automatically works out the cheapest rate – either per hour, overnight, day rate, or a combination.

An on-line booking system can be used to make or change a booking at any time on any Internet capable device. Cars must be returned to the bay where they were picked up.

How it will work

Co-wheels car club has its head office in Durham, but is a national car club with more than 50 locations across the UK.

 Co-wheels is the UK’s only independently run national car club, and a social enterprise.

 The car club pays an annual fee which allows them to hire cars on a pay-as-you-go basis, with insurance and fuel included.

 Cars are parked in dedicated locations, and can be booked online and unlocked with a smartcard.

 Co-wheels is already running successful car clubs in Newcastle and Gateshead, and expansion is planned across the North East Combined Authority area this year.

 Hire is charged for the time period of the entire booking (not just driving time), plus mileage.

The firm’s system automatically works out the cheapest rate – either per hour, overnight, day rate, or a combination.

 An online booking system can be used to make or change a booking at any time on any internet capable device.

 Cars must be returned to the bay where they were picked up.