Subscriber’s remorse
Are you considering an EV subscription? First read about my experiences.
In late 2021, I completed the slick process on Elmo’s website and was told the car was due the next day. Instead, I got a call to say it had been delayed. I was impressed by their service but still got the impression that things behind the scenes were a bit chaotic.
Eventually my Tesla Model 3 arrived, costing just over £1300 per month, so I had high expectations. It had been cleaned but was stained and scuffed inside and had trashed wheels. It had clearly had a hard life. I complained and they got it valeted.
I had a few small issues, but it was the charging that finished me off. Elmo offers a BP Pulse card, and if you’re familiar with this network, you will get why this didn’t work.
Leaving was contentious, as Elmo wanted me to pay for the wheels. Eventually the fleet team conceded it wasn’t my fault, but they didn’t tell this to the team chasing me to pay.
Next I decided to try the apparent market leaders and join up to Onto’s offer of better charging networks.
If Elmo was like being on The Apprentice, Onto was like being on Sesame Street!
My Volkswagen ID 3 arrived with a scuffed interior and stained seat, and their response was to get it cleaned myself and they would pay.
I later referred a friend, but the system didn’t work. When I asked about driving his car, I was told it was fine but got no confirmation in writing. Thankfully I checked, else I would have been left uninsured.
Finally, in December I drove to Switzerland for skiing. Somewhere in Belgium the TPMS light came on. The tyres were fine, so I continued, and on arrival I emailed Onto to ask who was responsible for new tyres. On the 19th, I badly busted a leg. I asked about repatriating the car on the 20th but heard nothing until the 24th, and then they only mentioned the tyres. I returned home on the 23rd, and on the 28th Onto emailed to ask why the car was still abroad!
I’ll return to an ownership model that puts me back in the driving seat. Charles Mills
Via email