People in Bangor will soon have access to a new way of getting around as a Welsh electric car-sharing scheme prepares to launch in the city.

TrydaNi, which provides shared access to zero-emission vehicles, is due to open a car club in Bangor as part of a wider expansion across Wales.

The scheme has already attracted more than 500 members and currently operates 13 car clubs, with Bangor among the latest locations being brought into the network. It is backed by £1 million in Welsh Government funding.

The idea is relatively simple: rather than owning a car outright, members can book an electric vehicle when they need one and pay according to how much they use it.

That could make the scheme particularly relevant in Bangor, where students, residents, businesses and community organisations may occasionally need access to a vehicle without wanting the full cost of ownership.

Cars can be booked by the hour or day through the TrydaNi app, with prices starting at £2 an hour, capped at £30, plus 16p per mile for the first 100 miles.

The organisation says car clubs can be particularly useful in communities where people may need access to a car but don't necessarily need one every day.

For some households, the scheme could provide an alternative to owning a second vehicle. For others, it could provide occasional access to a car without the costs associated with insurance, maintenance, servicing, road tax and parking.

There is also an environmental argument behind the expansion, with the vehicles providing an opportunity for people to try electric motoring without committing to buying an electric car themselves.

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper said car clubs could offer people an affordable way to share access to vehicles while helping Wales move towards its net-zero ambitions.

He said the scheme also gave people the opportunity to experience driving an electric vehicle without making a long-term commitment.

Bangor is not the only new location being targeted.TrydaNi has expanded this year into Swansea, Penygroes and Abergavenny, while existing clubs are operating in communities elsewhere in Wales.

The experience in Aberystwyth provides an indication of how the model can develop.

Its club launched in December 2024 and now has 99 members, sharing two electric vehicles – a Vauxhall Combo Life Electric and a Renault Zoe – based at North Road car park.

One member, Simon LePine, said he and his wife had not owned a car for at least 15 years and that the shared vehicle gave them access to a car when they needed one without having to deal with the costs and responsibilities of ownership.

The scheme is also operating in smaller communities, including Penygroes, where a Kia Niro is based at Yr Orsaf with dedicated parking and charging facilities.

That rural dimension is important because transport access can be a particular challenge outside the largest towns and cities. A car can be essential for accessing employment, healthcare, shops and services, while owning and running one can be expensive.

The success of schemes such as TrydaNi will ultimately depend on how many people are prepared to change their travel habits.

For someone who currently owns a car and uses it every day, a car club may not be a realistic replacement.

But for households with a second car that spends much of its time parked, or people who only need a vehicle occasionally, the economics could look very different.

There are also practical considerations. Members need to plan journeys around vehicle availability, return the car to its designated location and ensure it is charged for the next user.

TrydaNi provides support seven days a week between 8am and 10pm, while members can also join local WhatsApp groups. Members can become "Community Champions", earning credits by helping with the cleaning and maintenance of vehicles.

The vehicles are normally accessed through the TrydaNi smartphone app, which is used to start bookings and unlock the cars.

For Bangor, the forthcoming launch represents another small step towards expanding access to electric transport without requiring everyone to own their own electric vehicle.

And with TrydaNi already growing across Wales, the Bangor club will provide an opportunity to see whether car sharing can become a practical part of everyday transport in one of North Wales's largest communities.