WEATHERMAN Sean Batty has launched a new car club which has a fleet of hybrid electric vehicles.

Co-wheels Car Club, which has 32 cars and vans, is a social enterprise and the UK's largest independent car club operator.

The new 32 strong fleet will operate from 13 dedicated parking bays in the city centre, 10 in the the West End, three in the East End and six in the South Side.

Sean said: "With over 12 cars removed from the roads for every car club car on the street, I was impressed to see car club sharing schemes like this not only reduce congestion but simultaneously tackle air quality issues in the city centre so the benefits for the environment, and therefore our delicate Scottish weather system, are potentially enormous.

"With 32 cars going onto the streets of Glasgow tomorrow Co-wheels have potentially eliminated the need for a staggering 384 vehicles across the city."

Iconic STV weatherman Sean Batty was today the first to take the wheel of one of a fleet of 32 hybrid electric cars unveiled ahead of the launch of Co-wheels Car Club in Glasgow tomorrow.

Co-wheels is a social enterprise, and the UK's largest independent Car Club operator, operating car sharing schemes across the UK. On Friday they introduce a fleet of Toyota Yaris hybrid vehicles, low emission Toyota Aygos, seven seater Toyota Versos and 2 Toyota Pro Ace vans into Glasgow city centre, the West End, East End and South Side of the city. With additional bays being planned, and further car deployments likely ,the Co-wheels Glasgow car club is set to expand in the year ahead to provide access to the people of Glasgow by the end of the year.

Steering his way to the unveiling of a selection of cars that will be available in the service, Sean Batty was the first Glasgow citizen to get behind the wheel, making his way across town to the official unveiling held in George Square on Thursday 3rd September.

Sean commented:

"What an amazing experience - it's the first hybrid car I've ever driven so it was a bit of an adventure for me, but I've already taken in some key sights on my way across the city and I can really see how this will come in handy for quickly nipping across town for the messages, or even a wee day out at a nearby visitor attraction. It's such a simple, no-fuss way to use a car without actually needing to own one.

"With over 12 cars removed from the roads for every car club car on the street, I was impressed to see that car club sharing schemes like this not only reduce congestion but simultaneously tackle air quality issues in the city centre so the benefits for the environment, and therefore our delicate Scottish weather system, are potentially enormous. With 32 cars going onto the streets of Glasgow tomorrow Co-wheels have potentially eliminated the need for a staggering 384 vehicles across the city! Glasgow's just perfect for this kind of car club. Dare I say, Miles Better, in fact?!"

The new Co-wheel cars will be available from dedicated parking bays at existing locations in Glasgow:

• 13 City Centre

• 10 Westside

• 6 Southside

• 3 East side

Members of the previous Car Club scheme can benefit from free membership and £10 free driving credit as a sign-up incentive to welcome them to Co-wheels. The offer is also open to new members for a limited time up to the launch date by visiting co-wheels.org.uk/glasgow

Richard Falconer, Director at Co-wheels said:

"We are delighted to be working with Glasgow City Council to deliver the Car Club scheme in the city and to grow existing provision. More people seeing car sharing as a convenient and low cost alternative to car ownership. When people sign up to a Car Club, they benefit from the flexibility of being able to book a car on a "pay as you drive" basis with none of the hassle of car ownership, parking or having to pick up keys from a hire company's offices. People experience all of the benefits with none of the hassle of owning a car.

"We are keen to make the transition to Co-wheels Car Club as easy as possible for both existing members of the current scheme and for new members and are encouraging people to sign up via our website. The scheme in Glasgow adds to our successful car club schemes already running in Aberdeen, Dundee and Dumfries, as well as newly formed community car clubs in East Lothian and Huntly, and we are delighted to be able to bring our experience now to help expand the Glasgow scheme out to even more members."

Councillor Frank McAveety, Chair of the Sustainability and Environment committee at Glasgow City Council, said:

"Since we launched the car club in 2010, more and more Glaswegians are making the most of this environmentally friendly car sharing scheme.

"Building a more sustainable city is in everyone's interest and the car club has proved very beneficial to Glasgow. The new contract with Co-wheels to provide a pay as you go car club service for the next five years will make it even easier for people across the city to save money and help cut down on pollution and congestion on our roads.

"A car club is a great asset to the city and we look forward to working with Co-wheels to provide this fantastic service to the public."

Co-wheels is the largest Car Club operator in the UK with operations in more than 50 locations, from small villages to city centres. As a social enterprise, it ploughs all of its profits back into expanding the community car club network, and taking more cars off the road.

As a sector, car clubs are a rapidly expanding industry across the UK. Over the past five years, there has been sustained growth in Car Club membership to over 22,500 members using almost 700 vehicles in England and Wales, outside London. Co-wheels boasts a fleet of 450 cars and over 10,000 drivers currently using their service.

Richard Falconer from Co-wheels added:

"As a social enterprise, Co-wheel's mission is to help members and partners to save money, reduce car ownership and create environmental benefit. Because Co-wheels is a Community Interest Company, profit is reinvested into operations to expand the service. Our company mission ties in well with Glasgow's aspiration to become a truly green pioneer and its ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2020."

Advantages of joining a car club include:

• There are 3,040 fewer privately owned cars on Scotland's roads as a result of Car Club members selling, disposing of or deferring purchase of vehicles.

• Shared transport solution helps reduce congestion - 18% of drivers joining a Car Club in Scotland avoid buying a car;

• Over 12 cars are removed from the roads for every car club car on the street, which also helps reduce parking congestion;

• Electric and hybrid vehicles help tackle air quality issues in the city centre;

• Studies show Car Club vehicles are 37% less polluting than average public-owned car.

• Car Club members are more likely to use public transport and active travel modes more as part of their personal transportation requirements.

• Car Clubs Reduce congestion and parking issues in city centres.

Anybody wanting to sign up to the Co-wheels car club scheme should visit the website to register for membership: www.co-wheels.org.uk/glasgow