Lydia Wu’s experience renting an electric vehicle from Avis in Kansas City was less than ideal due to the lack of specific instructions provided for operating and charging the EV. Despite enjoying the luxurious interior of the Genesis GV60, the overall experience turned her off from considering an EV for her next car. Similarly, a lack of proper guidance during a rental of a Polestar 2 from Hertz in San Diego left some first-time EV drivers feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, like Wu who worked in the EV industry but hadn’t driven one before.
While EVs represent about 7% of overall car sales, rental car companies like Hertz may have overestimated their customers’ readiness for a switch to electric vehicles. Hertz’s plan to add 240,000 EVs to its fleet by 2024 faced challenges, with the company eventually deciding to sell off a significant portion of its Tesla models due to high repair costs associated with EVs. Large rental companies often struggle to provide individualized instruction to rookie EV drivers, further complicating the transition from gas-powered vehicles to EVs for some customers.
The transition from gas-powered vehicles to EVs is not always seamless, with features like automatic regenerative braking catching even experienced drivers off guard. Hertz attempted to address this issue by providing a QR code linking to instructional videos for renting customers but the reality is that many renters may not take the time to review this information. Both Hertz and Avis declined to comment on the challenges faced by customers like Wu and Doug Jensen, who struggled with charging issues and lack of guidance during their EV rentals.
For customers seeking a more hands-on rental experience, smaller companies like Joulez and peer-to-peer platforms like Turo offer more personalized service for EV renters. Joulez, founded in 2021, focuses on providing a different experience for customers unfamiliar with EVs, offering on-site attendants for vehicle overviews and customer service support for charging issues. Turo hosts also provide helpful walk-throughs of EV features, making the rental process smoother for customers looking to try out an electric vehicle.
While some renters have had negative experiences with EVs from large rental companies, others like Jay Waldron enjoyed the experience of driving an EV like the Hyundai Kona from National. Waldron’s positive experience led him to purchase a Kia EV6 shortly after renting the Kona, highlighting the potential for EV rentals to influence future purchasing decisions. Overall, the challenges faced by renters like Wu and Jensen underscore the need for improved guidance and support for customers transitioning to electric vehicles in the rental car industry.
