Short-term leasing will be essential to the mass adoption of electric vehicles, providing a means to deal with driver concerns over the switch.

So says new mobility provider SOGO, adding that at least 35% of its initial fleet will be electric vehicles and this is likely to increase over the coming months.

EV take-up is already fast-rising among fleets, driven by the 0% Benefit-in-Kind tax incentive, and the Government’s 2030 new car diesel and petrol ban is likely to drive this further.

Already, according to SOGO, some fleet companies are reporting that electric vehicles account for 30% of all sales, while latest figures from the SMMT show battery electric vehicles (BEV) sales increased 185.9% in 2020, accounting for 6.6% market share of new car registrations; up from a 1.6% share in 2019.

And newly formed mobility provider Sogo – which is focused on ultra-flexible leasing – said that enabling motorists to use an electric vehicle for a month on a short lease will convince them of the case for going electric, particularly for smaller fleet owners and private motorists and due to the low running costs and driving dynamics.

Karl Howkins, SOGO managing director and former Citroën UK managing director, said: “The ability to use an electric car for a month or two will overcome driver concerns and accelerate the adoption of this important technology ahead of the ban on ICE vehicles in 2030.”

SOGO will provide ultra-flexible service with leases available from one month to four years. It will build a fleet of around 5,000 vehicles in its first year, backed by a subscription model that includes comprehensive insurance, maintenance, breakdown cover and industry-leading flexibility – and launching to businesses first, followed by consumers.

The latest technology will provide a digital-led service that will allow customers to order a vehicle in a matter of minutes. It is operating nationally from a network of logistics hubs.

It’s the latest development from SOGO who continues to expand its team; the business announced at the end of 2020 that Mike Pearce has joined as director of operations and Lee O’Connell is appointed as sales director.

Mike Pearce was previously head of brand at BCA market place and commercial director at Autologic. He will build a team that is focused on providing a seamless customer experience and driving operational efficiencies.

Lee O’Connell joins SOGO to lead a national sales team. He was previously the sales director at Agility Fleet and held roles at Vauxhall.