How Australians can try an EV before they buy one

Australians hesitant about electric cars now have the opportunity to try before they buy. See how it works and where you can apply.

Several companies are now offering short term leases of electric cars to buyers keen to see whether a zero-emissions vehicle suits their lifestyle.

Australians hesitant about electric cars now have the opportunity to try before they buy.

Several companies are now offering short term leases of electric cars to buyers keen to see whether a zero-emissions vehicle suits their lifestyle.

Australian new-car subscription service Karmo has bought $17m worth of electric cars to lease out to interested drivers in all mainland state capitals.

Users can sign up for one week, one month or a four-month period.

Karmo founder and CEO Nick Boucher said the company had five different electric vehicles on the platform for people to drive: the Tesla Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV, the MG ZS EV small SUV, BYD Atto 3 hatchback and Polestar 2 sedan.

Users on a four-month subscription can hire a Model 3 for $399 a week, which includes everything except tolls and charging.

Aussies can now try electric cars before they buy. Picture: Thomas Wielecki

Mr Boucher said once people had driven electric vehicles they were won over by how good they were to drive and the anxiety associated with living with an EV disappeared.

“We see a lot of trepidation with EVs in Australia and I think car subscriptions are a great way for people to try before they buy,” Mr Boucher said.

Karmo’s entry into the EV market follows similar moves by car hire giant Hertz and rideshare leader Uber. Hertz has ordered 65,000 Polestar electric vehicles globally and added the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 electric cars to its local fleet, while Uber is offering its drivers access to 500 electric vehicles in partnership with local car subscription provider Splend.

Helped by $1.8m funding from the NSW Government, Splend expects to have all 500 vehicles on the road by early 2023, allowing Uber users to book zero-emissions trips.

“The NSW government is proud to have worked with Splend as a recipient of our NSW Drive Electric Funding program, and we look forward to seeing more rideshare trips happening in EVs in the months and years ahead,” NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean said.

Andre Haddad, Global CEO of Turo.

Global peer-to-peer car sharing giant Turo also launched in Australia this week.

Turo’s global CEO Andre Haddad said electric cars were a big focus for the company.

In the US EVs represent 15 per cent of Turo’s business.

“We’ll have a big emphasis on enabling EVs on Turo in Australia; we think it’s something that is about to experience tremendous growth as more people consider purchasing an EV.

“EVs are definitely a huge part of how Turo has been successful in other markets such as the US, Canada, UK and France,” Mr Haddad said.

Energy giant AGL is also getting in on the act, partnering with subscription service Carbar to offer electric vehicles.

Adrian McKenzie from Brisbane has a Tesla Model 3 on a four-month subscription with Karmo.

“It’s inevitable that electric cars are going to take over the market and we wanted to see what our future car would be like,” Mr McKenzie said.

“The advantage is we got to try and find the car that suits us before we commit to a purchase.”

Mr McKenzie is renovating his house and as an electrician he was keen to learn how to future proof his home for EV adoption.

He said the lack of fuel bills at the moment was an added bonus.

“Just yesterday I was driving past a servo and thought ‘that’s a good price, I should fill up’ before realising I didn’t have to,” he said.

Originally published as How Australians can try an EV before they buy one