The Benefits and Drawbacks of Your First EV Rental

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Your First EV Rental

I'm on leave. As a freelance writer, I'm actually on "vacation." While in a different location, I did a little less work than usual.
Yesterday, in order to beat the other passengers on the plane, I rushed from the airport to the car rental location, leaving my wife to deal with the luggage. That's a helpful hint. One person handles the luggage, while the other gets the car. Go, Baldwin team.
A Tesla EV parked in front of a Hertz office.
Even though I was able to get our vehicle faster than most (another pro tip: use car rental company apps and sign up to be a preferred member; the line is shorter), it still took too long. I also got a huge scratch on my arm from the shuttle, and while the people behind the desk were wonderful, their computer system was not and kept logging them out.
As I drove away in my Kia Soul, I realized that people will go through this ordeal of tired passengers, frustrated employees, and strange contract negotiations in order to drive an EV from Tesla or Polestar. It sounds like a fantastic idea. However, it is possible that it is not one that should be undertaken by newcomers.

The Benefits of EV Car Rental

Picking up your car is only a small part of the overall car rental process. Hopefully, it's just a small part of your vacation, business trip, or whatever reason you need a car. Following that, it's like a long test drive.
Allowing people to drive EVs is the best way to get them interested in them. So far, no one I know has returned from a test drive complaining about the instant torque and smoothness of the ride. Of course, 10-15 minutes in the driver's seat isn't the entire EV experience. This is where a rental comes in handy.
You can currently rent a Tesla Model 3, the best-selling EV, from Hertz. It can be rented in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale.
Someone getting ready to charge an electric vehicle at a charging station.
Going with Tesla first makes a lot of sense for the rental company. The most common problem with EVs is range anxiety, which is really charging anxiety. EVs are fantastic, and experienced EV owners have grown accustomed to the act of charging on the go. Yes, there are a lot more gas stations, but keeping an EV on the road isn't that difficult with a few apps and some planning.
Tesla's charging experience is also head and shoulders above the competition. The company made an early investment in its Supercharger network. It constructed cross-country corridors and then simply continued to install charging stations. It also helps that the in-car navigation system is tightly integrated with the vehicle's current state of charge and those stations. The system finds stations for the driver along the way while planning routes. Tesla's killer app is charging.
Hertz, however, did not stop with Tesla. Polestar has also signed a contract with the rental company. Polestar 2 sedans are expected to enter fleets in Europe and North America by the end of the year. While Polestar does not have its own charging network, it does have Android Automotive and a more EV-focused version of Google Maps baked into the infotainment system. It will also show you charging stations along your route, just like Tesla.
As a renter, you get a fantastic EV that is also smart enough to assist drivers in finding charging stations, reducing their stress levels. It's a nice way for current EV owners to keep driving green when they're not at home. It's a long-term introduction to the world of EV driving for the EV curious. It sounds ideal. But…

The Drawbacks of Having Your First EV Experience as a Rental

Remember how I mentioned getting a large scratch on my arm while picking up our rental car? That actually occurred. My forearm has a six-inch slice running down it. I'm a patient person, so I shrugged it off, but it's a metaphor for my car rental experience. Particularly now.
"A good way to think about it is that getting gas is something you do; charging is something that happens while you're doing other things."
Everything is prohibitively expensive. Rental agencies were in dire straits at the start of the pandemic and began selling off their vehicles to avoid economic disaster. Then people began to return to their vacations. The chip shortage and supply chain issues that have made it difficult to purchase a new car have also made it difficult for rental companies to purchase new vehicles. As a result, prices skyrocketed. Worse yet, people arrived with reservations for vehicles that did not exist.
Renting a car now carries less risk of ending up with an Uhaul than it did previously. It's still extremely expensive, and the experience requires all of your patience as the system slashes at you (sometimes literally) with one strange annoyance after another.
I was the sixth person in line at the rental counter, and it took about 30-45 minutes for me to get my car. This was, once again, the preferred customer line. The quick-moving line. Sign up for car rental apps and accounts before renting a vehicle. You'll be grateful later.
customers who should have been happy because, woohoo vacation, were becoming frustrated as the regular line grew longer. Perhaps that isn't the best experience to associate with your first EV driving experience.

There's also the charging. In reality, most people charge their EVs overnight at home. Charging on the go is much easier than it used to be, but it can still be a pain at times. There are some lines. If you're in a hurry to, oh, I don't know, catch a plane, the wait for EV charging can be inconvenient.
My recommendation is to charge it the entire time. Plug it in whenever you see a charging station near something you want to do, whether you're shopping, eating dinner, or hiking. EV owners do this naturally, but if you're new to electric vehicles, you might still be in the gas mindset, waiting to refuel.
Two children load their belongings into the back of an electric SUV.
A good analogy is that getting gas is something you do; charging is something that happens while you do other things. Also, make sure to download all of the charging apps. They'll come in handy.
Or you could simply postpone renting an EV because vacation should be less stressful, not more.

A Happy Middle Ground

All of that being said, if you're prepared, renting an EV is a great way to get excited about EVs. Renting one for a few days near your home or while visiting family or good friends is one option. People close to you will have to allow you to plug into their home at night. If you do that, bring them presents. Electricity is still expensive.
However, while driving around your hometown or a cool location where a friend or family member lives, you'll be able to enjoy instant torque and a quiet, smooth ride for a few days. Hopefully, your rental agency pickup experience was smooth, or at the very least did not break your will with long wait times and broken computer systems. Some of the people who were on my flight yesterday are probably still waiting.
So, should you rent your first electric vehicle? Sure, if you keep a few things in mind. Renting a car is a pain, and everything is made easier by having good friends and family who allow you to plug in at night.
Also, seriously consider downloading the rental apps and creating an account so you can skip the long lines.