Paris has launched a new car service in a bid to reduce traffic chaos and pollution.

The Autolib is electric; you pick it up and drop it off at various stations across the city. It operates like the self-service bicycles so popular in several European cities.

The ‘blue car’ can be hired for between four and eight euros for half an hour by motorists who pay a 10 euro membership fee.

“Taking public transport with the family can be limited and if you want a taxi in the evening it can be complicated so I think the autolib could be a great alternative,” explained one city resident.

The design of the cars was done in collaboration with giant Italian company Pininfarina who also work with Ferrari. French entrepreneur Vincent Bollore’s company is behind the scheme and has reportedly invested a billion euros in developing the new lithium-metal polymer batteries.

The Autolib could provide a shop window for his nascent car battery business. The pilot scheme will run for two months.