sonnen partners with Carbar to launch sonnenDrive in Australia

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Sydney, AUSTRALIA - 10 May 2021 – Smart energy storage systems manufacturer, sonnen in partnership with Australia’s leading car subscription service, Carbar, today announced the launch of its electric vehicle (EV) subscription service, sonnenDrive, in Australia. This is the first time sonnenDrive has been offered to customers outside Europe and it reflects the growing demand among Australians for cleaner and affordable mobility solutions.

Customers will be able to choose from six different vehicles when the subscription service is launched, with prices starting at $319 per week for a new 2020 MG ZS EV to $447 per week for a new Tesla Model 3.

sonnenDrive is available exclusively to sonnen customers only and together with a sonnen home energy storage solution, households can reduce the size of their carbon footprint significantly. Clean energy generated by a rooftop solar system or stored in a sonnenBatterie will be used to power the leased EV.

Through the pay as you go subscription model, sonnen customers can evaluate if an EV is right for them without the commitment of buying. There are no lock-in contracts and unlike other shared services, sonnenDrive customers will have exclusive use of the EV, with the weekly subscription payment covering everything from registration, insurance, maintenance, servicing and roadside assistance.

Under the partnership, Carbar will be responsible for the administration of the subscription program, including delivering, maintaining and servicing all vehicles. For sonnen, this partnership is a step towards a further expansion of the company as a new energy provider by offering households an integrated technology and service solution for switching to clean energy. This solution comprises of a solar home battery, energy offers, participation in Virtual Power Plants and now e-mobility.

Nathan Dunn, CEO APAC and Managing Director of sonnen Australia said, “Producing your own, clean energy for your home and using it for e-mobility is a natural combination. sonnenDrive makes it easier for customers to take their energy independence on the road by providing flexible, affordable access to an EV and powering it with clean energy.”

“We’ve partnered with Carbar to launch sonnenDrive in Australia as our customers tell us they want to be able to live an even more sustainable lifestyle by extending their energy independence to e-mobility. With Carbar, sonnen is offering greater flexibility to swap between EV models as their needs change - just like their modular home energy storage system that can expand with their energy needs.”

According to the Electric Vehicle Council of Australia, sales of electric vehicles grew 200% in 2019 while ICE vehicle sales fell 7.8%, and 56% of surveyed consumers would consider purchasing an electric vehicle as their next car.

Des Hang, co-founder and CEO of Carbar added: “We’re incredibly bullish on the adoption and rollout of EV cars across Australia. A recent study by Carbar indicated that 86% of subscribers would consider an EV in the next 12 months.

“We look forward to working with sonnen as it ramps up its sonnenDrive program in Australia”.

sonnenBatteries are designed in Germany and produced in the former Holden factory in Elizabeth, South Australia. sonnen batteries are certified Australian made and built with the capacity for expansion in increments of 2.5kWh up to a 15kWh capacity. Backed with a 10-year warranty, sonnen provides customers with access to a local support team based in Elizabeth. For further information, visit sonnen.com.au.