The Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, with a phenomenal 58 mpg EPA combined rating and the promise of a perkier driving experience than the Toyota Prius, is poised to capture the hearts of eco-frugalistas. Yet the path to success for the Ioniq Electric is definitely different. To woo savvy younger urban drivers who want to go electric but might not be convinced of the merits of car ownership, Hyundai has wisely explored some new avenues.
The company has revealed two such approaches: detailing an innovative partnership with the car-sharing company WaiveCar, allowing you to potentially make short local trips for free; and teasing a subscription model based around a single monthly payment that covers nearly all aspects of ownership.
It?s far from other brand-related efforts such as ReachNow, Maven, or Car2Go. The catches?of course there are catches?is that you have to be okay with being a rolling billboard, and you can?t go very far. WaiveCar?s business model is advertising-supported, so its vehicles include wraps and signs. That could be embarrassing?but if you don?t care, it could save you a lot of money on local errands. WaiveCar?s fleet is entirely stocked with all-electric vehicles. It currently operates only in Santa Monica, California, and while drivers have to return the vehicles to a well-defined area in that city, they?re allowed to drive the vehicles within a 20-mile radius of there?which does include much of Los Angeles. With the WaiveCar app, you locate a car near you, then r...