?40,000
The amount of extra funding recently given by the government to green car clubs is £40,000 - and it will be used to support development of the driving schemes.
The amount of extra funding recently given by the government to green car clubs is ?40,000 - and it will be used to support development of the driving schemes.
This is according to the Department for Transport, which views such initiatives as important for boosting low-carbon vehicle usage and tackling congestion.
Motoring clubs are used by people who can pay a membership fee for access to eco-friendly cars by the hour, day or on an as-you-travel basis. The government says that this helps them to get behind the wheel for fewer trips and, even when they do have to hit the road, they tot up a lower amount of carbon emissions.
Indeed, the programmes appear to be increasingly popular these days - possibly due to improved awareness about energy-efficient driving and the cost savings that can come from finding a greener way from A to B.
Statistics show that while three years ago there were 22,000 members of car clubs in the country, there are now 127,114.
Each vehicle used as part of a car club results in an average of 24 private vehicles being taken off the road - and with the replacement low-carbon motors being a third more efficient, the benefits can be huge.
Transport minister Normal Baker explained: "Research has shown that pay-as-you-go car clubs reduce car use and support other sustainable travel initiatives by plugging gaps in journeys and promoting a shift in long-term behaviour."
The extra funding may not seem like a large amount, added an expert, but it is very significant against such a tight economic backdrop.
Director of national charity Carplus Antonia Roberts went on: "[The clubs] can save individuals, businesses and local authorities money, reduce emissions and support sustainable transport objectives."
Mayor of London Boris Johnson also commented, saying that the schemes are "brilliant" and many of the capital's residents have already signed up.
Londoners may find that joining a car club saves them even more money, due to the congestion charge and price of petrol.
News of the investment comes after the publication of a report by smart, which found that about two-thirds of people would consider driving an electric vehicle, but only if the charging stations and related infrastructure were improved.
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