Plymouth City Council has outlined plans to roll out e-bikes, electric vehicle chargers and an electric car club across the city from next month.
Connect Plymouth will eventually see 500 Beryl electric bikes made available for hire at more than 90 locations, as well as 300 fast and rapid Wenea electric vehicle chargers in 50 locations, and an electric car club operated by Exeter-based Co Cars.
The scheme officially launches on March 21, and a new website connectplymouth.org is now live enabling users to see where facilities will be located.
It has been made possible through the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund, which “aims to change people’s travel habits by making it as easy as possible for people to choose low carbon options to get about”. The Council received £51.2 million capital funding in March 2020, in addition to £7.6 million awarded in 2019.
The e-bikes, car hire and charge points have been designed to be integrated with existing public travel services across the city, including ferries, walking and cycle routes.
Commenting on the news Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport said:
“We’re really excited about Connect Plymouth as it will offer greener, more sustainable travel right across the city.
“The scheme is all about making sustainable transport easier and more attractive for the people of Plymouth to use. With the official launch date in sight, we wanted people to check out the map so that they can get a sense of what’s on offer near them.
“We have committed to reducing carbon emissions and to greener travel as part of our Climate Emergency Action Plan and we want Connect Plymouth to play a big part in helping to change people’s habits and to get greener on the go.”
