Most consumers love ‘try before you buy’ opportunities, especially when the goods or services involved are big ticket items laden with new technology not yet fully understood by the general population. Such test runs are effectively a way for potential purchasers to undertake some due diligence on a product before deciding to take the plunge and buy it.
Car buyers are one group of consumers now wanting to undertake a much deeper due diligence before updating their ‘wheels’. This shift has been motivated by the seismic shift now occurring in the automobile industry, where electric vehicles (EVs) are slowly but surely growing their market shares at the expense of those powered by good old-fashioned internal combustion engines.
A steadily increasing number of car buyers are presently ‘kicking the tyres’ of EVs ahead of acquiring them, but would love a more comprehensive test run than that afforded to them by car dealerships – which is quite literally a quick drive around the block with a salesman telling you that EVs are the way of the future – and that you will never again be frequenting petrol stations and leaving them with your wallet materially lighter. In a quest for increased knowledge, some aspiring EV owners have rented EVs in the quest to learn more about them, but this route is expensive – and, to boot, the range of cars available to rent is quite limited.
Car buyers have come to the realisation that existing ‘getting to know you’ options have clear-cut deficiencies. This left them with many key EV ownership-related questions unanswered, a significant problem given EVs come with their own unique set of requirements which must be fully appreciated by auto owners before they help the world in its decarbonisation journey.
Now Australian car subscription pioneer Carly Holdings (ASX:CL8) is giving prospective EV buyers a way to undertake a very practical and meaningful due diligence on the ins and outs of EV ownership by taking up its recently launched EV Trial.
Carly Holdings’ EV Trial provides a simple and cost-effective way for car purchasers – be they personal or business owners – to understand if an electric vehicle is suitable for their lifestyle before they take the plunge and buy one. The Trial also offers the opportunity to decide which EV model best fits their individual circumstances.
The Trial was developed under the premise, how can a car buyer really know if an EV is suitable if they can only take it for a blink-and-you-miss-it test drive. It gives the budding EV buyer a host of insights, including the best way to handle different types of trips (e.g., the commute to work, school pick-ups and long-distance travel), how charging works and potential cost savings.
Carly Holdings’ EV Trial starts at 30 days, and can be extended to a month-to-month subscription. Popular EV models that are available under the Trial include Hyundai’s Kona, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, the Genesis GV60, MG’s MG4, the BYD Seal and Cupra Born. Carly Holdings will be adding further car makes and models to this list over coming months.
The Caly Holdings EV Trial comes with useful education and support features. Consumers signing up to the Trial answer a short survey to identify the best EV model for them to trial based on size, price, charging capabilities and range. They also enjoy immediate access to Carly’s dedicated EV support team, who help them set-up their vehicle at pick-up and guide them through how the car works, as well as charging requirements. Every Carly EV Trial also includes a free 200kWh charge pack that can be used at any of the 1,500 Chargefox charging locations across Australia.
Carly Holdings’ CEO, Chris Noone, said: “EV Trial is a perfect extension of our existing car subscription product that significantly expands Carly’s potential reach to high growth consumer and corporate markets. The only way to know if an EV is the right fit is to try it, that’s why we created the Carly EV Trial. Many people are keen to transition to an EV. Now they have a sensible way to do some due diligence before they make a very expensive and important purchase.”
As EVs become more mainstream, consumers will come to understand what particular EV best suits their needs and budget. Until such time, ‘try before you buy’ opportunities like Carly Holdings’ EV Trial lessen the chance of potential buyers of EVs receiving surprise shocks (of the financial variety!)
Tony Farnham is a financial markets veteran and Analyst/Financial Writer at The Capital Network.
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