The topic of renting an EV seems to be a recurring one, so thought this might be of interest to those considering it; be it in the US or elsewhere.
A couple of takeaways
1- Not all cars/charging systems are created equal
2- If it's not something you are already familiar with, learning on vacation seems far from ideal
Hope this helps those who are considering renting an EV to make an informed decision and be aware/prepared for circumstances that are possible to arise.
2- If it's not something you are already familiar with, learning on
vacation seems far from ideal
My brother-in-law learned that in Florida last year. Multiple companies all requiring their own app for payment, and none in our area that you could pay by credit card at the charging station. It was app based only. And downloading the app and registering also took time. Not to mention the lineups and wait times before you got to charge. We went to a mall that had multiple charging stations but all were full and my brother-in-law had to wait over an hour before it was his turn to charge. It wasn't an ideal situation when you're trying to maximize your vacation time.
Last Fall in the Dordogne we briefly considered an EV as rental rates were half the cost at the Bordeaux Airport, however it was challenging enough to find a gas station let alone a charging station on some days in rural areas. I also wonder how far I'd have to plan in advance to charge on my way back to the airport. Would I leave 5 hours early to give myself a 2 hour cushion in case of any lineups for charging station near the airport?
I own a Tesla. Love it-- due to the ease of charging and lack of issues when I can use Tesla chargers. I rented a Hyundai EV last year and it was a hassle. Like the article pointed out, you have to have an App. There are 3 different ones I know of. There were so many charging issues, I returned the car with about 10 miles of charge left on it because I could not charge it anywhere! It's like if you had an appliance with a plug. But that plug won't fit in most sockets. Then if it did fit, you have to have a special app that works with that plug. Then you have to understand which socket you are using. Is it socket A, B, C in wall X, Y Z? You just can't use the power in that wall without first giving up all your personal information. Oh yes, good luck finding the socket to begin with. Charging stations are usually hidden in the bowels of buildings, parking lots and if you do find them, good luck if they are in working order.
There is so much opportunity in making EV charging easier, faster and better. Like standardization and networks. In the US it is loosy goosy. I would love to only rent EV's when I need a rental car. but charging is a hot mess. Unless I was renting a Tesla and can charge at the various types of charging stations Tesla offers.
Also, building more charging stations. I need to go to Idaho and Montana this summer, but we have to drive the fossil. There aren't any charging stations where I need to go. Another issue.
Just as info for European travelers:
Don't forget the risk of being a target for protest.
