Canadians who are wondering what it might be like to own an electric vehicle will now have the opportunity to experience the EV lifestyle without making a big commitment. In a partnership called EValuate, Hyundai Canada and peer-to-peer car-sharing marketplace, Turo, have teamed up to launch “a new long-term electric vehicle discovery program,” the companies said in a joint press release.
Currently available in select cities in Quebec and Ontario, EValuate will next be rolled out in BC, and then across the country. “Turo’s Car Ownership Index shows that Canadians understand the importance of transitioning towards a green future, but are hesitant to switch to an EV before they have the opportunity to try one,” said Cedric Mathieu, Vice President and Head of Turo Canada.
Participants can try out a Hyundai electric model by booking it directly through the Turo platform. The program empowers Canadian consumers to experience firsthand “how zero-emission vehicles can fit into their lives while discovering the range, convenience, safety features and advanced driving technology of Hyundai EVs.”
A recent study by Turo, called the Car Ownership Index, found that despite widespread interest, 86 per cent of Canadians have never had an opportunity to drive an electric vehicle. The Index also found 66 per cent of Canadians would feel more comfortable making the switch to an EV if they had the opportunity to experience it for a few days to a week, indicating extended test drives can effectively address some barriers to widespread EV adoption, such as range anxiety.
“We believe EVs are the future of automotive and wider adoption is a crucial part of helping to address greenhouse gas emissions, but there is a real need-state to address consumer queries and hesitations about electric vehicles,” says Don Romano, president and CEO at Hyundai Canada. “At Hyundai, we are proud to be the second largest retailer of EVs and to offer the widest range of electrified vehicles in Canada. Through this partnership with Turo, we look forward to giving Canadians the opportunity to learn more about how our EVs can seamlessly fit into their lifestyles, for a more sustainable tomorrow.”
To facilitate the EV trials, certain Canadian Hyundai dealerships will list EVs on the Turo app, and users can take them for however long they want for an extended test drive, to see how well an EV will fit into their life.
