A HAMPSHIRE town is welcoming two eco-friendly new cars as part of a council’s commitment to greener travel.

The Co-wheels Car Club, which provides residents with temporary cars, is putting the two vehicles – a pair of Renault Zoe electric vehicles to replace two diesel Ford Fiestas – on the road in a scheme brought about by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Council bosses hope the move will help it in its bid to improve the environment in the borough by investing in greener technologies.

The new cars are part of the existing Co-wheels Car Club in Eastleigh and will be used by Eastleigh Borough Council staff, but are also available to local businesses and residents, who can join the club and drive an electric car, without the hassle and cost of owning one.

Electric cars work in exactly the same way as any other automatic car, but they do not produce any exhaust fumes.

The cars are located next to Eastleigh Bus Station where they have their own dedicated charging points and are the club’s first electric vehicles.

Two further public chargers are available in the town centre at the Mitchell Road multi-storey car park where they are free to users.

The club is designed to provide an easy and convenient way of hiring a car at low cost where vehicles are able to be booked for as little as 15 minutes, drivers only pay for the time they use and there is no mileage charge while the company takes care of car insurance, tax, servicing and maintenance.

The scheme has been funded through a Department for Transport grant, following a successful bid by the council.

This is one of a number of steps Eastleigh Borough Council has taken to reduce vehicle emissions in the borough which currently has four areas where air pollution levels, caused by vehicle fumes, are above national guidelines.

They are for Eastleigh town covering Leigh Road, Romsey Road, Southampton Road and Wide Lane, another near to the M3 junctions 12 to 14 and others at Bursledon and Botley.

The council last year agreed to spend £40,000 tackling air pollution, which included a scheme to put environmentally friendly buses on its streets, working alongside Southampton City Council and Bluestar to bid for government funding and an intern to look at air pollution issues.

The Daily Echo has also reported how the council was looking at banning lorries from the town centre and a park-and-ride scheme.

Cllr David Airey, Eastleigh Borough Council’s cabinet member for transport and street scene, said: “Going electric is the future – and it is amazing to see how technology has advanced to the point where electric cars are now a reality, with Co-wheels Car Club bringing pollution-free travel to its users.”

For more information or to sign up to Co-wheels visit co-wheels.org.uk or call 0191 375 1050.