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Londoners will be able to rent electric cars on a pay-per-use basis for the first time following the launch of Britain’s debut “e-car” club.

The scheme in Tower Hamlets is similar to other popular car-sharing firms such as StreetCar but instead of using a petrol or diesel-fuelled vehicle, members rent eco-friendly cars and do not have to pay fuel costs.

E-Car club members will pay a £50 joining fee for 24-hour access to the scheme — which is being run in partnership with social landlord Poplar HARCA, with rental prices starting at £5.50 an hour or £45 per day. The scheme is initially open to businesses and individuals in Tower Hamlets before it is rolled out nationwide. There are two Renault Zoes and two Fluence saloons but organisers plan to increase the fleet to 20 by the end of the year, with other boroughs to follow suit.

The launch follows the success of two pilot projects in Milton Keynes and Luton last year. E-car Club co-founder Christopher Morris said: “The e-car mission is a simple, if ambitious, one. We want to improve mobility on a local level while reducing both the cost and environmental impact of each journey taken.”