Our Story
Our Story
TrydaNi is a non-profit Community Benefit Society governed by a board of volunteer directors drawn from our membership. We started life in 2019 with a mission to build a network of community-owned EV charge points across Wales.
Fast-forward to 2024 and our mission today is to support local communities to create and run car clubs, and to facilitate a shift away from traditional models of car ownership towards a cleaner transport future.
However, the roots of TrydaNi spread as far back as the mid-1990s when the first car club in Wales was started in Machynlleth.
TrydaNi is a non-profit Community Benefit Society governed by a board of volunteer directors drawn from our membership. We started life in 2019 with a mission to build a network of community-owned EV charge points across Wales.
Fast-forward to 2024 and our mission today is to support local communities to create and run car clubs, and to facilitate a shift away from traditional models of car ownership towards a cleaner transport future.
However, the roots of TrydaNi spread as far back as the mid-1990s when the first car club in Wales was started in Machynlleth.
The beginning
The beginning
The beginning
In the mid-1990s a group of committed environmentalists affiliated to the Centre of Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth started the first car club in Wales (as far as we know!). Mach car club was the first example of people coming together to share a vehicle and to pioneer a new model of community transport.
In the early 2000s, a like-minded group in nearby Llanidloes decided to copy Mach, and set up a similar project. It grew to a similar size, and in 2019 the two clubs started collaborating in a bid to move away from petrol and diesel cars as electric vehicles began to come on the market.
In the mid-1990s a group of committed environmentalists affiliated to the Centre of Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth started the first car club in Wales (as far as we know!). Mach car club was the first example of people coming together to share a vehicle and to pioneer a new model of community transport.
In the early 2000s, a like-minded group in nearby Llanidloes decided to copy Mach, and set up a similar project. It grew to a similar size, and in 2019 the two clubs started collaborating in a bid to move away from petrol and diesel cars as electric vehicles began to come on the market.
In the mid-1990s a group of committed environmentalists affiliated to the Centre of Alternative Technology (CAT) in Machynlleth started the first car club in Wales (as far as we know!). Mach car club was the first example of people coming together to share a vehicle and to pioneer a new model of community transport.
In the early 2000s, a like-minded group in nearby Llanidloes decided to copy Mach, and set up a similar project. It grew to a similar size, and in 2019 the two clubs started collaborating in a bid to move away from petrol and diesel cars as electric vehicles began to come on the market.
TripTo Mid-Wales… and beyond
TripTo Mid-Wales… and beyond
TripTo Mid-Wales… and beyond
Around 2020, the Mach and Llani car clubs started working with two Newtown-based community organisations, Open Newtown and Robert Owen Community Banking Fund. Funding access via this partnership enabled the existing car clubs to switch to electric vehicles, and for the installation of charge points.
The new umbrella of Mid-Wales clubs was rebranded “TripTo”, and a community interest company (CIC) was formed to bring the growing number of vehicles under a single insurance policy. Members across Mid-Wales could now book via the same online calendar (though it was still necessary to manually record mileage in the vehicle’s logbook).
Around 2020, the Mach and Llani car clubs started working with two Newtown-based community organisations, Open Newtown and Robert Owen Community Banking Fund. Funding access via this partnership enabled the existing car clubs to switch to electric vehicles, and for the installation of charge points.
The new umbrella of Mid-Wales clubs was rebranded “TripTo”, and a community interest company (CIC) was formed to bring the growing number of vehicles under a single insurance policy. Members across Mid-Wales could now book via the same online calendar (though it was still necessary to manually record mileage in the vehicle’s logbook).
Around 2020, the Mach and Llani car clubs started working with two Newtown-based community organisations, Open Newtown and Robert Owen Community Banking Fund. Funding access via this partnership enabled the existing car clubs to switch to electric vehicles, and for the installation of charge points.
The new umbrella of Mid-Wales clubs was rebranded “TripTo”, and a community interest company (CIC) was formed to bring the growing number of vehicles under a single insurance policy. Members across Mid-Wales could now book via the same online calendar (though it was still necessary to manually record mileage in the vehicle’s logbook).
TrydaNi links up with Community Energy Wales
TrydaNi links up with Community Energy Wales
TrydaNi links up with Community Energy Wales
In the meantime, the founders of TrydaNi realised that the increasingly speedy rollout of a commercial charging network, combined with high financial barriers affecting EV adoption, meant that a rethink was required. They approached Community Energy Wales and were awarded Lottery funding for a new idea: a network of electric car clubs across Wales, hosted by local community energy organisations.
The original idea was to work with an existing car club provider, but it soon became clear that there was an opportunity to build something more exciting. By partnering with like-minded cooperative technologists across Europe all using an exciting new technology platform (The Mobility Factory), TrydaNi could become part of a wider movement of communities building a low carbon future.
In the meantime, the founders of TrydaNi realised that the increasingly speedy rollout of a commercial charging network, combined with high financial barriers affecting EV adoption, meant that a rethink was required. They approached Community Energy Wales and were awarded Lottery funding for a new idea: a network of electric car clubs across Wales, hosted by local community energy organisations.
The original idea was to work with an existing car club provider, but it soon became clear that there was an opportunity to build something more exciting. By partnering with like-minded cooperative technologists across Europe all using an exciting new technology platform (The Mobility Factory), TrydaNi could become part of a wider movement of communities building a low carbon future.
In the meantime, the founders of TrydaNi realised that the increasingly speedy rollout of a commercial charging network, combined with high financial barriers affecting EV adoption, meant that a rethink was required. They approached Community Energy Wales and were awarded Lottery funding for a new idea: a network of electric car clubs across Wales, hosted by local community energy organisations.
The original idea was to work with an existing car club provider, but it soon became clear that there was an opportunity to build something more exciting. By partnering with like-minded cooperative technologists across Europe all using an exciting new technology platform (The Mobility Factory), TrydaNi could become part of a wider movement of communities building a low carbon future.
TripTo joins the party
TripTo joins the party
TripTo joins the party
By 2022, it was becoming clear that TripTo and TrydaNi were two non-profit social enterprises with identical goals, and both organisations were already leasing vehicles from a shared community finance partner, Robert Owen Community Banking Fund.
So it was only a matter of time before the two organisations joined forces. In mid-2023, two of TripTo’s volunteer directors started working with Community Energy Wales to continue the rollout of the new TMF technology, and the two organisations formally merged in early 2024.
The Lottery-funded project with Community Energy Wales is ongoing and we’ve continued to experiment with different models as we aim to strike a balance between a centralised, efficient operation, whilst not losing our community roots (after all, TrydaNi is a Community Benefit Society).
By 2022, it was becoming clear that TripTo and TrydaNi were two non-profit social enterprises with identical goals, and both organisations were already leasing vehicles from a shared community finance partner, Robert Owen Community Banking Fund.
So it was only a matter of time before the two organisations joined forces. In mid-2023, two of TripTo’s volunteer directors started working with Community Energy Wales to continue the rollout of the new TMF technology, and the two organisations formally merged in early 2024.
The Lottery-funded project with Community Energy Wales is ongoing and we’ve continued to experiment with different models as we aim to strike a balance between a centralised, efficient operation, whilst not losing our community roots (after all, TrydaNi is a Community Benefit Society).
By 2022, it was becoming clear that TripTo and TrydaNi were two non-profit social enterprises with identical goals, and both organisations were already leasing vehicles from a shared community finance partner, Robert Owen Community Banking Fund.
So it was only a matter of time before the two organisations joined forces. In mid-2023, two of TripTo’s volunteer directors started working with Community Energy Wales to continue the rollout of the new TMF technology, and the two organisations formally merged in early 2024.
The Lottery-funded project with Community Energy Wales is ongoing and we’ve continued to experiment with different models as we aim to strike a balance between a centralised, efficient operation, whilst not losing our community roots (after all, TrydaNi is a Community Benefit Society).
Welsh Government funding
Welsh Government funding
Welsh Government funding
In March 2024, after many volunteer hours working and reworking proposals, TrydaNi and Robert Owen were delighted to receive a substantial boost in the form of a £1m grant from Welsh Government to continue rolling out our network of clubs.
The project is not without its challenges, particularly given the rural demographics of Wales, but we’ve hit the ground running and we’re feeling excited about the road ahead… watch this space for the next chapter (don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list).
In March 2024, after many volunteer hours working and reworking proposals, TrydaNi and Robert Owen were delighted to receive a substantial boost in the form of a £1m grant from Welsh Government to continue rolling out our network of clubs.
The project is not without its challenges, particularly given the rural demographics of Wales, but we’ve hit the ground running and we’re feeling excited about the road ahead… watch this space for the next chapter (don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list).
In March 2024, after many volunteer hours working and reworking proposals, TrydaNi and Robert Owen were delighted to receive a substantial boost in the form of a £1m grant from Welsh Government to continue rolling out our network of clubs.
The project is not without its challenges, particularly given the rural demographics of Wales, but we’ve hit the ground running and we’re feeling excited about the road ahead… watch this space for the next chapter (don’t forget to sign up to our mailing list).
Start your electric car journey today
© 2024 TrydaNi Car Clubs
Start your electric car journey today
© 2024 TrydaNi Car Clubs
Start your electric car journey today
© 2024 TrydaNi Car Clubs