New electric car and bike services for Speyside
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
MORAY Carshare has extended its car and bike sharing services into Speyside.
The new services are part of a Moray Council drive to create a low-carbon hub in the Aberlour area.
A hybrid electric car and two electric bikes are now available for hire next to Aberlour Visitor Centre, in addition to two bikes stationed in a shelter at Craigellachie's Fiddich Park car park.
After launching the services last week, Moray Carshare manager Gordon McAlpine said: "The aim of our part of the project is to introduce sustainable travel options for people in a rural area where there is a deficit of transport services.
"Our car and e-bike hire services are surprisingly affordable at the same time as being environmentally friendly.
"We have launched with a low-emission Toyota Yaris hybrid car, but before the end of the year this will be replaced with a pure electric Renault Zoe that will be charged from a new fast-charging point.
"This charging point and both of the new bike shelters are part of the 'Speyside low-carbon hub' that Moray Council are creating, thanks to winning funding from the European Union’s Regional Development Fund.
"Other parts of this project include two more charge points and major improvements to the Speyside Way in order to encourage more active travel."
Mr McAlpine added: "We have been running our car-sharing services for 12 years now, including two cars in each of the villages of Findhorn and Kinloss, as well as more cars in Forres and the Findhorn Ecovillage.
"The cars in these villages have proved very popular for a wide variety of people. We have some families who choose to use us instead of having a second car, and many others, young and old, who don’t need a car every day, and would rather be free of the hassle of car ownership.
"For all of them it usually works out cheaper to use us instead of having their own car, as they only pay according to how much they actually use."
He said that, for many members, another motivation for joining was the scheme's strong environmental focus, adding: "All our cars are chosen for their low emissions and one-third of our fleet is now electric – and charged from 100 per cent renewable sources."
Studies of car club use have found that when people have to pay for each time they use a resource they become more aware of their choices. Therefore, car club members choose to walk, cycle or use public transport more often rather than take a car.
Mr McAlpine added: "Electric bikes are a new venture for us. They can offer many people a way back into cycling, and thereby to a healthier lifestyle through increased exercise."
Speyside's electric car and electric bikes have been partly funded by the Moray LEADER programme and HiTrans.
At the launch local councillor Derek Ross drew the winner of Moray Carshare’s prize draw, for all those who participated in its sustainable transport survey. The lucky winner of a £100 Elgin Gift Voucher was John Stephenson, from Elgin.
