Bangor Set for TrydaNi Electric Car Club Launch 2026

Key Points

• TrydaNi currently runs 13 electric car clubs across Wales, with more than 500 members.
• The community-owned scheme has received £1 million in Welsh Government funding.
• A new TrydaNi club is expected to open in Bangor, following new clubs in Swansea, Penygroes and Abergavenny during 2026.
• Individuals, businesses and non-profit organisations can join the scheme.
• Members can hire electric vehicles by the hour or day using the TrydaNi app.
• Prices start at £2 an hour, with daily hire capped at £30, plus 16p per mile for the first 100 miles.
• Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper visited the Aberystwyth club, which has 99 members and two electric vehicles.
• The Welsh Government said the scheme can be particularly useful in rural areas where public transport is limited.
• Members can join local WhatsApp groups or become Community Champions, earning credits for helping to look after the vehicles.

Wales (Wales Times) August 28, 2026 — TrydaNi car sharing scheme is preparing to expand to uk/local/bangor/">Bangor after growing to more than 500 members across Wales, with the Welsh Government-backed network now operating 13 community electric car clubs.

The planned Bangor launch follows the opening of clubs in Swansea, Penygroes and Abergavenny during 2026. TrydaNi is open to individuals, businesses and non-profit organisations, allowing members to access electric vehicles without owning one.

According to the Welsh Government’s announcement, the scheme has received £1 million in public funding and is designed to provide an affordable, zero-emission transport option for communities across Wales. The Government said the model could be particularly useful in rural areas, where public transport services may be more limited and car access can be more important for everyday journeys.

How is TrydaNi car sharing scheme expanding across Wales?

The TrydaNi car sharing scheme operates through locally based clubs, where members can reserve and unlock shared electric vehicles using the TrydaNi mobile app. The expansion towards Bangor would extend the network into another north Wales location, although a launch date, vehicle details and the Bangor club’s base have not been confirmed in the Welsh Government announcement.

The Welsh Government said the network has expanded as new clubs have opened and membership has risen beyond 500. Its announcement identified the Swansea, Penygroes and Abergavenny launches as developments during this year, while confirming that Bangor is the next planned location.

Rhys Gregory, editor of Wales 247, also reported that TrydaNi had exceeded 500 members, had opened the three new clubs during 2026 and would soon establish a Bangor club. His report reflected the Welsh Government’s published details of the wider expansion.

TrydaNi describes itself as a community-owned electric car-sharing service operating in Wales. It works with community organisations to host local car clubs and charging points, rather than using a conventional private-car ownership model.

The Welsh Government has not said how many electric cars would be placed in Bangor, where they would be stationed, or when residents and organisations will be able to make bookings. Those operational details will be important for prospective members, particularly for people planning regular journeys for work, medical appointments, shopping or connections with public transport.

What did Mark Hooper say about the new car clubs?

Deputy Minister for Transport Mark Hooper visited TrydaNi’s club in Aberystwyth to see how Welsh Government funding was being used to support access to shared electric vehicles.

In the Welsh Government statement, Mr Hooper said:

“Car clubs are an easy and affordable way for people to share use of a car without the cost of owning one. I’m so pleased to see the scheme expanding.”

He added: “It’s just one of the ways we can help cut carbon emissions and move towards a net zero future. People not only have the option of giving up their own car or a second car but also can benefit from the real-world experience of driving electric without a long-term commitment.”

Mr Hooper had previously described TrydaNi-style car clubs as an example of communities finding “smarter, greener ways to travel”. In a June statement issued through Monmouthshire County Council during the Abergavenny launch, he said the model could provide affordable access to electric vehicles without the costs associated with ownership and help support the Welsh Government’s aim of reducing car dependency.

The Government’s stated position is that car clubs can form one part of its broader transport and climate approach. Its announcement does not claim that car sharing can replace all private-car use or public transport services; rather, it presents shared vehicles as an additional option for people who may not need to own a vehicle full time.

How does the TrydaNi car club membership work?

TrydaNi members can hire vehicles by the hour or by the day. The Welsh Government said users book and unlock cars through the TrydaNi app.

The published pricing begins at £2 per hour, with the hourly charge capped at £30. Members also pay 16p per mile for the first 100 miles. The Government’s announcement did not set out all possible charges, booking conditions, availability rules or any location-specific arrangements that may apply at individual clubs. Prospective users should therefore check TrydaNi’s booking information before relying on a vehicle for a particular journey.

The Abergavenny club, for example, is based at electric vehicle charging points in Fairfield car park and uses a 2022 Kia e-Niro. Monmouthshire County Council said the vehicle had a stated range of more than 250 miles and that the club had been supported by both the council and Greener Abergavenny following a successful local bid.

That example shows that each club can have locally specific arrangements, including the host organisation, vehicle type and parking location. No comparable information has yet been released publicly for Bangor.

The scheme also offers an optional WhatsApp group for each club, enabling local members to communicate. A dedicated support team is available by telephone from 8am until 10pm, seven days a week, according to the Welsh Government.

Members may also become Community Champions. The role allows participants to earn credits by helping to clean and maintain the shared vehicles. Monmouthshire County Council said TrydaNi’s longer-term aim is for clubs to become self-managing through networks of committed members and Community Champions.

Why has Aberystwyth become a focus for TrydaNi?

The Aberystwyth car club began operating in December 2024 and has since gained 99 members, according to the Welsh Government. Members share two electric vehicles a Vauxhall Combo Life Electric and a Renault Zoe — based at North Road car park.

The site was the focus of Mr Hooper’s visit, providing the Government with an example of how the club model is being used in practice. The Welsh Government published comments from member Simon LePine, who said he and his wife had not owned a car for at least 15 years.

Mr LePine said:

“My wife and I have not owned a car for at least 15 years, so the car is our only access to a vehicle. It allows us to use a car when we need it without worrying about parking, insurance, and all of that other stuff when we don’t need the car.”

His account illustrates the intended use case described by the Government: access to a vehicle when needed, without the continuing costs and responsibilities of full ownership. Those costs can include insurance, maintenance, parking and servicing, although the precise value of membership will depend on how often an individual needs a car and the availability of vehicles when they want to travel.

Background: What funding led to the TrydaNi expansion?

The £1 million support for rural car clubs was announced by the Welsh Government in March 2024 as part of its rural transport policy. At that time, then Deputy Minister for Climate Change Lee Waters said the grant would create a network of car clubs in rural Welsh communities.

The Government said the grant would be led by Robert Owen Community Banking, working with TrydaNi and TripTo. It noted that the organisations already operated car clubs in locations including Llanidloes, Machynlleth, Penrhyn-coch, Crymych, Ammanford, Kilgetty, Llandovery and Llandrindod Wells.

The subsequent development of clubs in Aberystwyth, Swansea, Penygroes and Abergavenny, followed by the planned Bangor launch, represents a continuation of that publicly funded network-building approach. The scheme’s expansion also comes as local authorities, community groups and governments seek transport options that can supplement limited rural bus and rail provision.

Prediction: How could the Bangor launch affect local people and organisations?

If the Bangor club opens as planned, it could provide residents, community groups, charities and smaller businesses with another way to access an electric vehicle without purchasing or leasing one directly. This may be most relevant to people who need a car only occasionally, households considering whether they need a second vehicle, and organisations with intermittent travel requirements.

For rural and semi-rural users travelling to and from Bangor, the club’s usefulness will depend on practical details that have not yet been announced, including vehicle numbers, location, charging arrangements, booking availability and whether the cars are available at the times users need them.

The Bangor launch could also increase awareness of car sharing and electric vehicles among people who have not previously driven an EV. However, it will not necessarily meet the needs of residents requiring daily car access, people with inflexible travel schedules, or those who live far from the club’s eventual parking location. The effect on local transport choices will become clearer after the club’s location, operating arrangements and early membership figures are published.