A new way to test drive an electric car
Have you ever driven an electric car? Well, with RAA and Flexicar now offering an electric vehicle (EV) to hire from Mile End for as little as an hour, it’s never been easier to discover just what the experience is like.
RAA members, along with other South Australian drivers, can now slip into the driver’s seat of a Hyundai Kona electric vehicle and experience how it feels and handles for themselves.
Flexicar gives people the opportunity to hire a car on a short-term basis from various locations around Adelaide.
As is the case with the existing 19 vehicle Flexicar fleet of SUVs, people movers and hatchbacks, drivers can use their smartphones or the Flexicar website to book and unlock the EV.
RAA Senior Manager Future Mobility, Mark Borlace, expects the new EV addition to the Flexicar fleet to be popular as a novelty item among motorists.
“While everyone has heard of electric vehicles, the vast majority of motorists wouldn’t have driven one, let alone been a passenger in one,” Mr Borlace says.
“Obviously there’s a great difference in the noise level associated with an EV, plus the instant response of the motor to the accelerator and deceleration of the engine once your foot is off that pedal.
“I expect there will be many people interested in driving a car which represents the new future of motoring.”
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Mr Borlace says the Flexicar EV is likely to be popular with people who don’t have a car, but need one occasionally for a weekend getaway or short business trip.
“We also expect it will be useful for car owners who need a second vehicle from time to time,” he says.
Interested in hiring the EV? The Hyundai Kona EV is located at RAA headquarters on Richmond Rd. You can find the Kona at an electric charging station, which uses green energy for recharging, in a reserved section of the members’ car park.
Looking for a longer-term EV option to try before you buy? RAA’s new car subscription service has the MG ZS EV Essence available for a minimum of two months, with loads of added perks included as part of subscription.