Prestwich residents can now get a taste of electric motoring with the arrival of a new car hire hub based at Fairfax Road car park.

The Enterprise Car Club has made two electric cars available for members to rent from the town centre.

Residents can hire the cars by becoming members of Enterprise Car Club and will be able to hire these electric cars by the hour or by the day.

Membership also gives access to 1,400 Enterprise Car Club vehicles across the whole of the UK, including 70 in Greater Manchester.

The initiative is aimed at those who do not have their own car, want to try out a ‘green’ transport alternative, or are looking at reducing their own car usage.

Another vehicle at Market Street car park in Bury is also coming soon.

As part of an Interreg NW Europe funded eHUBS project, the initiative is run by Bury Council, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Enterprise Car Club.

According to research, each car club takes 20 private cars off the road, and helps those who cannot afford their own car.

Cllr Alan Quinn, Bury’s cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “The project aims to accelerate the transition to shared electric mobility services and therefore reduce carbon emissions.

The scheme is already available and working well in other areas including Manchester and Salford, and is part of a wider transport picture that encourages active travel and reduced car ownership.”

Dan Gursel, Managing Director of Enterprise Car Club, said: “We are delighted to launch this service in Prestwich as part of the eHubs initiative.

"It will help reduce congestion and improve air quality by enabling people to make more sustainable travel choices. At a time when costs are increasing using a car club vehicle can make a real contribution to keep down the cost of travel.

"Membership includes fuel, servicing, breakdown cover, insurance and cleaning, so you only pay for a vehicle when you need it, not when you don’t.”

“We are continuing to expand Enterprise Car Club to reach communities large and small, so that people can quickly and easily pick up low emission and value for money cars when that is the best choice for their journey.”

Enterprise Car Club provides on-street low emission, hybrid and electric vehicles at locations in 180 cities, towns and communities across the UK.

Many Enterprise Car Club vehicles are located at transport hubs including cars parked within 500 metres of 180 railway stations. Vehicles can be reserved and accessed via an app and are available 24/7.