Greencore Homes has partnered with Zimbl to introduce a shared electric vehicle and charging hub at The Canopies in Milton Heights, Oxfordshire. The scheme is Zimbl’s first collaboration with a housing developer and will give residents access to a shared MG-5 electric car through a Z-Base Mobility Hub. The 27-home development will also include additional Z-Charge facilities for communal use. The partnership combines Passivhaus housing with shared transport provision as the UK approaches the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales.
Shared Transport At The Canopies
The Canopies has been designed around lower-energy living, with each home built to the internationally recognised Passivhaus standard. Greencore Homes says the homes use high levels of insulation, airtight construction and mechanical heat recovery ventilation to provide fresh, filtered air and year-round comfort while supporting lower energy bills.
The addition of a Zimbl vehicle gives homeowners an on-site alternative to private car ownership for journeys when a vehicle is needed. Residents will be required to complete an induction before using the MG-5, with in-person and online options covering vehicle operation, charging myths and energy use. Zimbl also offers its Z-Confident™ accreditation, intended to support safety and confidence among people switching to electric driving.
Jan Simmonds, Founder at Zimbl, said:
“We are delighted to partner with Greencore Homes on our first collaboration with a housing developer. The Canopies is an ideal setting for our Z-Base Mobility Hub, combining sustainable homes with convenient access to shared electric transport.
Jan Simmonds, Founder at Zimbl, said:
“Giving residents access to a vehicle when they need one can reduce the cost and environmental impact of individual car ownership, while our induction and support will help users feel confident making the switch to electric driving. We hope this partnership will demonstrate how shared mobility can become a practical and valuable part of sustainable communities.”
A Growing Electric Fleet
Zimbl began operations in Banbury in 2022 with one vehicle and has expanded across Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Its EV-only fleet now includes cars, vans and minibuses, with most powered by the company’s own off-grid generator using hydrogenated vegetable oil fuel.
The company reports more than 9,000 bookings from almost 3,000 registered users. Its current fleet comprises 15 off-grid-charged vehicles, reflecting the early local scale from which the mobility hub provider is now building its developer offer.
Zimbl plans to establish 50 Zimbl hubs, known as Z-Hubs, in housing developments across the UK. These are intended to support more than 100,000 new homes, providing at least EV hire and charging infrastructure. Depending on the location, the hubs can also include e-bikes, e-taxis, e-delivery services, a café, farm food shop and coworking space.
Supporting Lower Impact Living
Greencore Homes positions the Zimbl partnership within its work to develop sustainable communities using innovation and local resources. At The Canopies, the shared vehicle and charging facilities sit alongside the fabric-first approach of the homes themselves, bringing transport into the development’s wider environmental proposition.
The development includes private market sale homes, with prices starting from £404,950. Shared Ownership and First Home houses and apartments are also due for release later in the year. For residents, the shared EV is designed to offer access to electric transport without requiring every household to own a dedicated vehicle.
Rodger Shipway, Head of Sales and Marketing at Greencore Homes, said:
“At Greencore Homes, we always strive to stay ahead of the curve by championing innovation that delivers meaningful change. With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we’re partnering with Zimbl to make shared electric mobility more accessible for our homeowners.”
Rodger Shipway, Head of Sales and Marketing at Greencore Homes, said:
“As the UK works towards achieving Net Zero by 2050, it’s vital that communities have access to the infrastructure needed to support more sustainable lifestyles. By introducing a shared electric vehicle to our development, we are further helping residents reduce their environmental impact and are offering sustainable alternatives.”
Connected Oxfordshire Location
Milton Heights offers transport connections through Didcot Parkway Station, located just over three miles from The Canopies, with direct services to Oxford, Reading and London Paddington. The location also places residents within reach of local schools, universities and green spaces, including Radley Lake and Mowbray Fields.
Nature trails around the development are intended to encourage outdoor activity and wellbeing, while the shared EV provision adds another practical service for day-to-day travel. The partnership offers a clear example of how residential developments can combine energy-efficient homes, charging infrastructure and shared mobility in one place.
A Practical Developer Partnership
The Canopies marks an important new route to market for Zimbl, placing its mobility hub model directly within a new-build community. For Greencore Homes, the initiative extends the development’s low-energy housing specification into residents’ transport choices.
As housing developers consider how facilities can support lower-carbon lifestyles after occupation, shared electric vehicles can provide a useful complement to public transport, walking and cycling. At Milton Heights, Greencore Homes and Zimbl are pairing that proposition with charging access and user induction, giving residents practical support alongside the vehicle itself.
