Hertz recently purchased a large number of Teslas for their rental fleet, but due to poor customer response, many of them have been put up for sale. One customer rented a Tesla from Hertz and experienced some interesting features, such as the ability to scan a QR code on the car’s screen to transfer some profile settings from the Tesla app on the phone to the rental car. The feature was not completely reliable, especially when more than one person was in the car, and the execution of the profile import was considered poor. Additionally, the rental software did not do much to help new drivers understand how Teslas operate, which could be frustrating for first-time EV drivers.
One major issue with the rental Tesla was that it only imported the profile of one driver, causing problems when multiple individuals needed access to the car. The car seemed to forget the profiles of the drivers at times, making the execution of the feature less than ideal. Another issue was that the rental software did not provide much support for new drivers to understand the unique features of a Tesla, which could be confusing for those not familiar with EVs. While the option to use Tesla superchargers was available, it was suggested that Hertz and Tesla could do more to help renters understand the charging process and locate hotels with complimentary charging options.
The rental Tesla provided by Hertz included Tesla’s mobile charging cable, but only with a 120v plug which offered slow charging. It was recommended that the car should include a 50 amp RV plug for faster charging at rural locations, as well as a CCS adapter for charging at all CCS stations and Tesla superchargers. The car was given to the customer with less than 60% charge, leading to a return requirement of 10% charge or a $35 recharging fee. While EVs can save money over gasoline for long drives and non-supercharger charging, the $35 recharging fee was deemed excessive and could be a deterrent for potential renters.
In conclusion, the rental experience with the Hertz Tesla highlighted both positive and negative aspects of the rental process. While some features like profile importing and Tesla supercharger access were beneficial, issues with reliability, profile management, and charging capabilities were identified as areas of improvement. It was suggested that Hertz and Tesla could work on making the rental process more user-friendly for both Tesla owners and new EV drivers, by providing better support, clearer instructions, and additional charging options. By addressing these issues, Hertz could potentially increase the appeal of renting EVs and encourage more drivers to try out electric vehicles for their rental needs.
