BUYERS unsure about an electric vehicle have the option of a trialling one under a month-by-month subscription lease from national subscription business Carly and available through car dealerships.

For dealers, the Carly EV Trial, which started this month, aims to give car buyers the confidence to make an informed purchase decision about buying an EV. 

Carly said that the trial was triggered by research that found many potential EV buyers were ‘sitting on the fence’ and that a trial offer may be what dealers needed to increase their sales of electric vehicles.

It said that it can provide dealers with two options for their customers to experience an EV Trial:

• Driving a vehicle provided by Carly 
• Choosing a vehicle from the dealer’s own inventory. 

Dealers can also list their EVs on the Carly platform for other drivers to access to generate income and sales leads.

Carly CEO Chris Noone said: “The Carly EV Trial www.evtrial.com.au is a simple and cost-effective way for car buyers to try an EV before they buy, to understand if an electric vehicle is suitable for their lifestyle.

“The trial also offers the opportunity to decide which EV model best fits their individual circumstances.

“The only way to know if an EV is right for you is to try it, that’s why we created the trial. Many people are keen to transition to an EV, but they want to know it is the right decision for them before they make an expensive and important purchase.”

He said it wasn’t just buying a new car but adopting a whole new technology, vocabulary and set of considerations that take time to appreciate. 

“We want to help dealers demystify EV technology and provide more reasons for their customers to buy an EV from their dealership,” he said.

“Not all people are early adopters and willing to take a risk on such a large purchase, that’s why we want to help dealers to provide ways to eliminate EV anxieties through trial and education.” 

The trial program 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 short 10 minute test drive?

The trial helps to answer all the questions buyers have about using an EV for daily driving, commuting and long-distance travel; from how charging works, to the potential cost savings. 

Car buyers can then make an informed decision about buying or leasing an EV in the future. 

Chris Noone

An EV trial starts at 30 days, and can be extended to a month-to-month subscription. Carly said that popular EV models that can be booked online include Hyundai Kona, Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, Genesis GV60, MG MG4, BYD Seal and Atto 3 and Cupra Born. More models and brands are being added each month.

Carly said that a big component of its trial was the education and support it offers before and during the experience. 

“Those who don’t know where to start can answer a quick five question survey to identify the best EV model for them to trial based on size, price, charging capabilities and range,” the company said.

“When a customer signs-up to an EV Trial they have immediate access to Carly’s dedicated EV support team who will help them set-up their vehicle at pick-up and guide them through how the car works, as well as charging requirements.”

To make driving an EV for the first time even easier, every Carly EV Trial also includes a free 200kWh charge pack that can be used at any of the 1500 Chargefox charging locations across Australia.