Since February 2010, Talybont Energy has been running an experimental car share project for the community. For the first 2.5 years, we had two cars in the scheme – a 100% electric Mega City car called ‘Bluebell’ and a Skoda Octavia which runs exclusively on recycled vegetable oil. The latter is called “Mr Chips” (for obvious reasons).
Sadly, after a pioneering and varied life, electric Bluebell died a death in the latter part of 2012. As a replacement, Talybont Energy has ordered an electric Renault Maxi Crew Kangoo van which can be configured as a van or as a 5 seater car (with side windows). The Kangoo has a range of around 90 miles. The van should be with us in May.
We currently have 13 signed up members of the car share scheme who book the cars online and collect them from the community hall where they are parked. There is a log book in each car and users are invoiced for usage once a month. We own a bunded tank where the biodiesel (manufactured from recycled vegetable oil) is kept. When the Kangoo van arrives, we hope to make it available for occasional hire by a wider section of the community (both households and businesses) through the village Post Office and stores.
At the end of 2012, Mr Chips had done 50,000 zero carbon replacement miles (travelling all over the UK) and Bluebell 7,500 miles (mainly in and out of Brecon). Including saved journeys through lift sharing, this equates to ~20 tonnes CO2 saved.