Commitment-Free Electric Driving
Hyundai and its financing arm, Hyundai Capital America, used the 2023 Chicago Auto Show to launch a new subscription service for its popular Hyundai Kona Electric and Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric cars. The new service, called Hyundai Evolve+, lets consumers drive the company’s newest electric vehicles without having to commit to a purchase or a longer-term lease.
Evolve+ is a month-to-month subscription service that gives drivers 1,000 miles of driving, insurance, maintenance, registration, and roadside assistance at a starting price of $699 per month for a Kona Electric and $899 per month for an Ioniq 5. Moreover, subscribers can cancel at any time during the subscription period, with no long-term commitment required.
There’s a $300 activation fee, but the all-in payment is competitive with what you’d typically pay if you purchased or leased a vehicle, and added insurance and maintenance costs. It’s also way less expensive than a daily rental. If a customer likes their experience, and want a long-term commitment, the Hyundai dealer can lease or sell them the vehicle they’re driving.
The Evolve+ program is administered through Hyundai dealers, and is offered in six states across America, with more likely to be added over the course of the year. Working with dealers gives Evolve+ customers the benefit of working with a respected local business that’s responsible for the vehicle’s initial condition and maintenance.
How Does It Work?
How does it work? The first step is downloading the Evolve+ app from Google Play or the Apple Store to your smartphone. You can search for a vehicle by zip code and price, and select a model from inventory. An all-in monthly subscription fee is clearly listed, with no need for negotiation. Once you create an account and confirm you qualify, you can simply pay for the subscription using your credit card. That secures the vehicle for you, and you work with the dealer to agree on a pick-up time.
“With no paperwork, no commitment and no long-term loan, Evolve+ is an optimal solution for the EV-curious car shopper,” said Olabisi Boyle, vice president of product planning and mobility strategy at Hyundai. “We’ve prioritized simplicity and flexibility, allowing customers to place orders and renew on their own terms on their own time all via smartphone. We are hoping that by offering a subscription-based option, we will increase EV adoption and awareness as customers transition into an EV future.”
Beyond offering a more streamlined buying experience, a month-to-month subscription program is a good fit for many customers who might need a car for a shorter term than a typical lease or purchase. For instance, it’s ideal for “snowbirds,” who need a car for their winter home a few months a year, a college student at home for the summer, workers and executives on remote assignments, and more.
We’ve always believed at GreenCars that living with an electric vehicle is an education process. The Evolve+ service from Hyundai gives drivers an opportunity to try an electric vehicle for a few months, no strings attached, to see if it’s truly the right fit for their lifestyle. We suspect that most Evolve+ customers will end up buying an EV after their experience.
