City Car Club
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| Limited company | |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Leeds, United Kingdom |
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Area served
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United Kingdom |
| Website | www |
City Car Club was a British car club operators. Established in 2000 and with around 840 vehicles,[1] it is the oldest and one of the largest car clubs operating at a national scale in the country. In April 2015 City Car Club was acquired by Enterprise Car Holdings, and was renamed Enterprise Car Club.[2]
Operating a range of low-emissions vehicles, it uses the now standard technologies of online booking and smartcards access to the cars. Relying upon support from local authorities, City Car Club works in partnership with communities, attempting to supplement existing public transport infrastructure and act as an alternative to conventional car ownership.[3]
On 28 August 2009, City Car Club acquired rivals WhizzGo creating the UK's largest network of hourly rental cars.[4] In 2010 City Car Club added vans to their fleet meaning that members can book a van by the hour in the same way as they do with the cars.
Origins
Car sharing and car clubs have been a popular choice of motorists in Central Europe since the late 1990s, most prominently in Switzerland where the organisation Mobility has more than 112,000 customers.[5] Influenced by this and other organisations, City Car Club was established in 2000 in London and Edinburgh and now operates in thirteen towns and cities around the UK (see 'Locations').
City Car Club has invested over £1M in hybrid vehicles.[6]
It is estimated that the average British car owner spends between £3000 and £4000 per annum on tax, maintenance and other costs;[7] and government initiatives such as the UK Commission for Integrated Transport, as well as NGOs including the Campaign for Better Transport, have cited car club membership as a valid way of reducing car ownership and the resulting congestion and pollution problems.
Membership
Upon joining, members are issued with a 'smart card' (or London members can use their Oyster Card), membership number, and four-digit PIN. They can then log on to the Car Club website to browse vehicle locations and book vehicles. Alternatively members may call the 'Clubhouse' to book over the phone. Members can extend their booking while it is under way using the on-board computer, provided the vehicle is available for the time specified. When the fuel gauge reaches 1/4, members are asked to fill the tank using the fuel card supplied in an information folder with each vehicle.
Acquisition of WhizzGo
On 28 August 2009, City Car Club acquired one of their competitors, WhizzGo, creating the UK's largest network of hourly rental cars. The strategic acquisition marked the first major consolidation within the UK car club industry and secured City Car Club's leading position - with 500 cars in 13 cities and a membership base of 20,000.
City Car Club withdrew the WhizzGo service in Liverpool in December 2009 when the existing contract with Liverpool City Council expired. Under the City Car Club name, the company continued to provide on-street rentals with 7 cars and 200 members by 2014.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ vehicles.
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