Firms based at the Bristol & Bath Science Park have become the first in the South West to share a fleet of electric cars.
The zero-emission vehicles are now available for people working at the park so they can make short journeys off site – so taking away the need for them to bring their own car to work.
The three Mitsubishi iMiEVs provide a smooth and almost silent ride and can travel nearly 100 miles before they need to be recharged.
Science Park tenants can book the cars in the same way as a car club for a small nominal charge.
Nine charging points will be provided at the Science Park, at Emerson’s Green, between Bath and Bristol – making it the latest site in a growing network of public charge points, around Bristol including The Mall at Cribbs Causeway, Cabot Circus as well as a host of sites along the M4 corridor.
The Science Park’s fleet of electric vehicles is the latest addition to a number of sustainable transport initiatives. It already offers electric bikes and has 98 cycle spaces as well as showers and drying facilities.
Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean said: “The novelty of the new electric cars has raised the profile of alternative ways to travel to and from the park.
“The new cars also make it easier for our growing population of cyclists and walkers to maintain their preferred method of travel. Our tenants address many challenges in their businesses on a day-to-day basis – this means that choosing sustainable travel is no longer one of them.”
Paul McCafferty, co-founder of JustOne Database, which has just moved into the Innovation Centre, added: “I’ve driven the electric cars a few times now and I really enjoyed the experience. “They’re a lot of fun and create quite a buzz with passers-by and when turning up to meetings.
“We went to one in Bath the other day and it was certainly a conversation starter. The cars are just one more benefit the Science Park has to offer and we couldn’t be happier that we are here.”
Two of the new vehicles carry Bristol & Bath Science Park branding, while the third has branding for North Bristol Sus Com, a group of major employers in North Bristol including Airbus, HP, National Composites Centre, BAE Systems, GKN and Friends Life, promoting sustainable commuting for its 40,000 employees.
West of England Local Enterprise Partnership chair Colin Skellett said: “The green economy is hugely significant for this region and it’s fantastic to see the Bristol & Bath Science Park helping to drive it forward.
“The electric cars are the latest is a series of measures to deliver truly sustainable transport options for people working at the Park.”
