A California startup is selling electric vehicle ‘subscriptions’

A contemporary car is nothing if not a dense stack of software, which means subscriptions on wheels are not entirely bonkers. But a car is also an appliance, and consumers aren’t accustomed to renting a refrigerator, let alone paying a monthly fee to use the ice-maker. — AFP

The landmark US climate bill passed by the House of Representatives on Aug 12 is a boon for would-be buyers of electric vehicles: It includes a US$7,500 (RM33,390) point-of-sale tax credit for any purchase of a qualifying new EV, and US$4,000 (RM17,808) off the purchase of a used one. But the bill doesn’t solve for one of the biggest challenges facing interested buyers: inventory.

It’s terribly difficult to get a new electric car these days. In a recent survey of thousands of EV owners for Bloomberg Green’s Electric Car Ratings, respondents said they waited almost seven months, on average, for their battery-powered vehicle. In Australia, the delivery delay on a new Tesla is so long – up to nine months – that used models are selling for hefty premiums. And while the new US incentives are generous, they come with manufacturing limitations that will soon exempt many of the machines on offer, leading to a mad dash this week to make a qualifying purchase.