Open University research conducted in 2017 on a UK-based e-car club renting out electric vehicles (EVs) that was established by the National Energy Foundation and Sustainable Venture and is now owned by Europcar. The research focuses on the experiences of using the car club, with methods used to gather data including participant observation and 15 interviews of current, dormant and lapsed e-car club members. The research findings demonstrate the presence of tight links of conventional mobility practices to meanings of freedom, independence, access on demand and empowerment. In sharp contrast, EVs are often associated with meanings of poor availability, range anxiety and concern about location of charging facilities – thus making use of owned cars obdurate, and impeding the wide diffusion and routine usage of the EV e-car club.