An Oxford-based private hire company has taken the minicab term literally. They’ve just unveiled a fleet of new vehicles, and they’re all Smart Cars. This revolutionary new scheme named, Solocar, which uses the miniature two-seater vehicle is making quite a name for itself gaining interest from all over the U.K.

The company boss, and brains behind the project George Raithby, was drawn to the idea partly because of the low running costs and also due to the environmentally friendly nature of the Smart Car. Customers also benefit from the lower running costs as they receive a 20% reduction in the price of a fare in comparison to that of a regular taxi.

They couldn’t have chosen a better city to trial the Smart Car hire scheme either. Oxford is proud of its reputation for being a green city with a huge majority of residents choosing a bicycle as their chosen mode of transport and a large amount of park and ride facilities available to discourage people from using a car in the city. The Solocar scheme fits in perfectly with Oxford’s green ethos and has already gained the backing from several councillors.

Company boss Mr Raithby researched the market before making the decision to embark on this project. He found that 60% of trips undertaken by his existing taxi drivers were for single passengers, often with little or no luggage. So far the customer feedback has been positive with many enjoying the novelty of the experience as well as appreciating the energy conscious choice of vehicle.

The Solocar scheme has been so successful that the firm is hoping to expand its fleet form 4 vehicles to 20 by April of next year.