IN A BID to go 'green' and encourage shared vehicle ownership for its moorers, Pillings Lock Marina have taken delivery of a 100% Electric Renault Zoe hatchback this week.
The car will form the first vehicle in a trial Community Car Scheme where varying levels of subscription are available for users to be able to hop in, run their errands and hop out again ready for the next person to use it.
Another 'green' feather
Pilling's Lock staff will also use the vehicle for local errands as a Pool Car meaning that the business takes in another 'green' feather to its cap . This is in addition to recycling, on-site waste water treatment and even rainwater harvesting.
The Community Car Scheme is open to all berth holders—permanent or visitors—who are over 30 and have a clean licence. With rates as low as £1.67 per hour and no mileage charges this scheme has the potential to benefit not only the environment but also help berth holders reduce or even eliminate the costs of running a small car (or second car), with General Manager Paul Lillie telling us:
Benefits to the environment
"As a business we can clearly see the benefits to the environment of electric vehicles and reducing the number of cars here can also have a massive positive environmental impact. Not only this, the local electric vehicle parking spaces in Loughborough are really conveniently located too (no stairs!) so there are lots of reasons to go shopping in such a vehicle.
"We have had two berth holders having had a test drive in the electric vehicle already within the first week and we are looking forward to many more clients taking part in the scheme. We also think that some summer cruising clients that over-winter with us will find this a huge benefit and could save thousands of pounds in maintaining a vehicle that is used rarely"
Charging points
New electric vehicle charging points are to be fitted very soon by Rolec Services at Pilling's Lock Marina. These two bays will allow clients to visit in their own electric vehicles and buy a top-up card from the office or café that is re-useable for each visit they make.