Co Cars and University of Exeter announce sustainable, hire-by-the-hour car scheme

The University of Exeter is the latest organisation to sign up to Co Cars’ business offer, giving staff access to hire-by-the-hour low emission cars, helping to reduce the number of cars on the University’s campuses.

Two brand new Toyota Yaris Hybrids are now available from the University’s Streatham Campus and a third will be available from College Road, St Luke’s later in the summer. The cars can be booked for business travel by University staff 24/7 either online or by smartphone and are also available for all Co Cars members to book and use.

By partnering with Co Cars, the University is not only helping streamline its business fleet costs but also supporting its Sustainable Travel Plan. Co Cars simply charges an hourly hire rate plus mileage, managing all other costs themselves whilst access to the shared, low emission hybrids increases sustainable transport choices for staff.

Joel Smith, Sustainability Officer at the University of Exeter, said: “We are really pleased to be working with Co Cars to provide three new hire by the hour cars on our Streatham and St. Luke’s campuses. The hybrid cars will really benefit our staff by allowing them to work more flexibly and travel more sustainably to meetings and on other essential journeys. Providing a choice of transport options to our staff supports our Sustainable Travel Plan objectives and helps to reduce the number of cars on the road in Exeter and on our campuses.” 

Mark Hodgson, Founder and Managing Director of Co Cars, added: “I am delighted that we’re working with the University to deliver more sustainable transport choices for their staff. Shared cars such as ours remove, on average, 15 private cars from the road, making them a great choice for organisations looking to manage staff parking and car use whilst also helping meet their environmental objectives.”

University staff who sign up to use the cars can also apply for free first year individual or household membership, allowing them to book, pay by the hour, and use Co Cars for their own personal use.   

Co Cars’ latest business partnership follows just a couple of months after the news of their agreement with Exeter College to provide a dedicated Co Car for staff use. In total, Co Cars now has 24 cars available for businesses and individuals to hire across Exeter, including four electric vehicles, and will be adding more in the coming months. Cars are also available to hire at locations across the South West including Plymouth, Cornwall and Salisbury. All Co Cars can be booked 24/7 online or by smartphone and hire costs range from £3.75 to £4.75 per hour or £27.50 to £34 per day plus 18p per mile.* 

Hire is inclusive of all costs including fuel, insurance, roadside assistance and maintenance. Joining is easy, simply visit www.co-cars.co.uk/joinand complete the online application form for business, individual or household membership. Businesses are also encouraged to contact Co Cars to discuss options around having a car for their exclusive use.

Co Cars also operates Co Bikes, the city’s on-street electric bike hire scheme. The popular scheme will expand to just under a hundred bikes during summer 2019 and the increased Co Bike network will work together with the cars to offer on-demand, shared mobility for all across Exeter.

*For electric vehicles, the mileage rate is free when using the Co Cars charging posts next to the EV car bays. Charging undertaken at the Ecotricity Electric Highway rapid chargers, or other pay-to-use charging points, is not covered by Co Cars.