Hackney Council has introduced a new electric vehicle (EV) car club pilot in collaboration with Zipcar and charging provider Zest, offering residents shared access to EVs and on-street charging infrastructure as part of a broader effort to promote low-emission transport options in the borough.
The pilot scheme will initially provide 15 electric vehicles through Zipcar, supported by 70 on-street fast charging connectors. The council said the new initiative is a step toward its goal of ensuring half of its proposed 300-car club fleet will be fully electric by 2026.
“I am really pleased that we’re offering residents inclusive affordable access to electric vehicles, which will get people used to driving and charging them,” said Sarah Young, Hackney Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport. “Shared electric vehicles are a win-win: they reduce air pollution and support equity for residents by adding to the affordable transport options.”
The council already operates a substantial car club network intended to support residents who do not own personal vehicles. Officials say the new EV pilot adds to Hackney’s sustainable transport policies and aligns with long-term climate goals. Hackney Council indicated that more electric vehicles would be added to the programme in the future, though it did not specify which EV models will be used in the pilot.
To support the new scheme, Zest will install 35 new charging sites across Hackney. Each location will include two charging connectors and two designated parking bays—one for public use and the other exclusively for car club vehicles. The council confirmed that each ward in the borough will receive at least one installation.
“We’re proud to partner with Hackney Council and Zipcar to deliver this industry leading initiative that makes access to electric vehicles convenient and equitable for the whole community,” said Robin Heap, CEO of Zest. “By combining reliable EV charging infrastructure with shared EV access, we’re building a future where greener transport is available to everyone—not just those who own a car.”
The pilot is supported by £1 million in funding from the UK government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Pilot Fund, with additional investment from Zest. The LEVI fund aims to help local authorities roll out accessible EV charging in residential areas.
Hackney’s pilot follows similar initiatives in other parts of London and the UK, as local councils work to reduce transport emissions and improve public access to clean mobility options.