Aurora, carbar team on Tasmanian electric vehicle subscriptions

Aurora Energy and car subscription website carbar are launching a subscription-based service to give Tasmanians access to new and used electric vehicles without lock-in contracts or the need to buy the vehicles outright.

"The vehicles on offer range from the Kia Niro EV ($389 per week) through to a 2020 Nissan Leaf ($279 per week)," the companies said.

"A Tesla Model 3 will be added to the fleet in early 2022."

There would also be an upfront fee varying by model to cover items including delivery and initial servicing.

"The weekly subscription fee aims to cover all of the cost of owning, maintaining and running a car, such as depreciation, interest, registration, insurance, routine maintenance, roadside assist, mechanic faults, faulty and worn tyres and batteries," the companies said.

Electric vehicles' share of new vehicle sales in Tasmania has decreased slightly in recent times, according to figures in the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries' VFACTS report.

Aurora chief executive Rebecca Kardos said the state-owned energy retailer hoped the partnership would be a catalyst for the uptake and growth of sustainable transport in Tasmania.

"We're focussed on helping our customers become more sustainable, whether that's through being more energy efficient in the home or through greater access to low emissions transport," Mrs Kardos said.

"Our partnership with carbar will do exactly that and help capitalise on Tasmania's renewable energy advantage as we push towards becoming a carbon neutral economy; that's a win-win.

"We look forward to seeing our customers out on the roads enjoying the pristine Tassie countryside in a way that is directly helping nurture its very existence for future generations to come."

Carbar chief-executive Desmond Hang said the partnership would significantly lower the barrier for Tasmanians to access electric vehicles.

"There's an incredible demand for EVs across Australia, and we believe this is especially the case in Tasmania, which has been a pioneer in Australia's clean energy sector," Mr Hang said.

"In addition to being an affordable means of getting behind the wheel of an EV, this launch is an ideal opportunity for many Tasmanians to try their first car subscription.

"It is unlike any other means of accessing a vehicle.

"With EV technology and innovation moving at a pace, subscriptions are ideal for those who always want to be behind the wheel of a car at the cutting edge of this trend.

"Finally, consumers can manage their car - on average their third largest household expense - on a fixed budget."

He said there would be no unexpected running costs and customers could cancel their cars at any time.

Burnie-based financial adviser Tristan Dallas said he and his wife, Elizabeth, had not really discussed electric vehicles and a new car was not a big priority at present.

However, the idea of a subscription service appealed to him as a way to test if various electric vehicles would suit their young family when the time came to replace their Ford Kuga SUV.

"As the boys grow, we'll need something a bit bigger," Mr Dallas said.

"If something was suitable and comparable with costs ...

"This is the sort of opportunity where you can have it for a week or a fortnight or whatever, and that gives you the opportunity to test out its paces and see how it suits the family."

Mr Dallas also uses a Honda 110 scooter and an ebike.

MG is offering 25 per cent off the weekly subscription price for the first three months for the MG eZS through its Tasmanian dealerships for the first 20 Aurora customers who subscribe.

More information will be available on Aurora's website.