E-bikes for hire have transformed the way Londoners cycle around the city, with it being easier than ever to jump on a Lime, Santander or Forest cycle and get from A to B in a quick, sustainable way.
But if you haven’t got on board with the Lime Bike fever, a new option is now on the streets for you to hire via app: a fleet of electric big yellow taxis buggies. There are 10 of them out on the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham as part of a ‘world-first’ for the transport mode.
Anyone who fancies hiring one of the buggies – which have been named the Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) – can do so for the price of 20p a minute, and will need to return it to the same point they rented it from – though you will be able to park them throughout your use free of charge around the borough. They can travel to a limit of 20mph, and anyone hiring them must be between the ages of 25 and 70.
The NEVs are the work of Yo-Go, with the trial hoping to expand out of West London across the city if this initial run proves successful. Yo-Go are monitoring the use, and has reportedly enjoyed a positive reception.
Speaking on their emergence, Yo-Go CEO Dr Sam Bailey said: “We’re fairly confident we’re a world-first. There are places you can go to which are golf-buggy only, where you’re on a resort somewhere, (for example) the big resorts in Florida where you park your car at the entrance and then drive around in a golf buggy.
“Part of the idea was, why couldn’t you make London feel more like that? Where you’re sharing the road with pedestrians, why can’t you make it nicer for them by making the vehicles less noisy, less polluting and less dangerous for them? The more vehicles you have that are like this, the more pleasant the roads become for everyone.”
Each buggy has a number plate and solar panels attached to the roof, with two seats and storage space on the back.
A spokesman for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said: “These innovative electric buggies are another first for Hammersmith and Fulham as they offer residents and businesses an affordable, eco-friendly alternative. We welcome this pilot as we work to make local journeys cheaper, greener and more convenient.”
The army of new and yellow Neighbourhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) by Yo-Go can now be hired in Hammersmith and Fulham as part of this ongoing trial. You must be aged between 25-70, and you can only drive them via the app hire. They cost 20p per minute, or 10p per minute if the customer uses the £10-per-month subscription. There are 10 buggies across four locations in Hammersmith and Fulham.
