Reducing the Impact of Car Travel
How Drivers Can Help Build a Low-Carbon Future
Transitioning to a low-carbon culture isn’t just about switching to an electric vehicle. Until the national grid is fully powered by renewable energy, EVs still rely on fossil fuels through gas-generated electricity. Also, EVs shed microplastics from their tyres and brake pads just like fossil-fuel powered cars do. That’s why we need smarter, more sustainable transport solutions.
What’s the easiest way to slash your car’s carbon emissions, microplastic pollution and fuel costs by 50%?
Share Your Ride!
Car sharing is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions, ease congestion, and save money.
Liftshare is a simple, user-friendly car-sharing platform that connects drivers and passengers for one-off or regular journeys across the UK. The more people you share with, the bigger the savings – on both COâ‚‚ and petrol costs.
Ditch the Expense, Keep the Convenience
Did you know the average car sits unused for 96% of the time? According to data from the RAC, cars spend just 4% of their lifespan on the road – yet they cost thousands to own, maintain, and insure.
For those who only need a vehicle occasionally, car clubs offer a flexible, cost-effective alternative. These services let you book the right car, at the right time, without the burden of ownership. Whether it’s a second car for the family or an urban runaround, car clubs provide a practical, low-carbon solution for modern mobility.
By rethinking how we travel, we can all play a part in accelerating the shift to a cleaner, greener transport system.
Drive Green and Save with Local Car Clubs
Car clubs offer affordable, eco-friendly travel without the costs of ownership.
Nottingham Car Club, set up by the City Council, lets residents, visitors, and businesses unlock cars via phone and rent by the hour or day, with mileage-based pricing.
The Meadows Car Club in Nottingham even provides an electric Nissan Leaf as part of the city-wide scheme.
Power Sharing: Smarter EV Charging and Driving
Hope Valley Climate Action is championing co-charging as part of their mission to ‘game your car use’. Their Guide to Electric Vehicle Charging offers practical tips, including how to share home chargers.
Co Charger App connects homeowners with chargers to EV drivers to rent them. With 400,000 home chargers in the UK (shown here on the Zapmap website) which is 10x more than public ones – sharing can help the 40-50% of motorists without home charging make the switch to electric vehicles.
Could your community follow Hope Valley’s lead? See their case study for inspiration!
Drive Smarter, Save More
The Energy Saving Trust (EST) shares efficient driving tips that can cut fuel costs, lower emissions, and improve safety. For EVs, smart driving extends range per charge. Techniques include better gear shifting, braking, heating, and ventilation management – challenging conventional wisdom.
The EST defines ‘efficient driving’ as a style that reduces fuel bills, cuts carbon emissions and lowers accident rates. It is about becoming a better driver, rather than sacrificing the performance or enjoyment of driving. For electric vehicles, efficient driving also means you can drive further on each charge.
Want to refine your skills? Driving efficiency courses offer expert training, widely used by fleet drivers. By adopting smarter charging and driving habits, we can all contribute to a cleaner, more efficient future!