Lydia Wu and Doug Jensen both had challenging experiences renting electric vehicles from Hertz and Avis, with little to no instruction provided on how to use the vehicles or find chargers. Wu rented a Genesis GV60 with a drained battery that required her to quickly locate a charger in cold weather, while Jensen attempted to use Tesla chargers for his Kia rental car. These experiences left both renters frustrated with the lack of support for first-time EV drivers. Hertz initially made a significant commitment to adding EVs to its fleet, but later decided to sell a portion of its Tesla models and focus on gas-powered vehicles due to higher repair costs associated with EVs.
With the growing popularity of electric vehicles, rental car companies like Hertz and Avis may have underestimated the readiness of their customers to make the switch. The transition from gas-powered vehicles to EVs can be challenging, even for experienced drivers, as they may encounter unfamiliar features like automatic regenerative braking. Companies like Turo and Joulez offer more personalized support for EV renters, providing detailed walk-throughs of the vehicles and assistance with charging. Joulez even has on-site attendants available to provide overviews of the EVs and a customer service line for any issues that may arise.
Despite the challenges faced by some renters, not everyone has a negative experience with renting an EV from a big rental car company. Georgia resident Jay Waldron, for example, rented a Hyundai Kona EV from National and enjoyed the driving experience so much that he later purchased a Kia EV6. Waldron’s positive experience highlights the potential for rental car companies to offer EVs that can appeal to a broader range of customers. However, the lack of individualized instruction and support for new EV drivers remains a significant hurdle for many renters, as seen in cases like Wu and Jensen’s experiences.
It is evident that more education and support are needed for first-time EV renters, especially when renting from large rental car companies with vast fleets to manage. Providing detailed instructions, walk-throughs, and assistance with charging can help ease the transition for drivers unfamiliar with electric vehicles. Companies like Turo and Joulez have taken steps to offer more personalized support for EV renters, but their smaller scale limits the reach of these services. Ultimately, addressing the challenges faced by renters like Wu and Jensen will require a concerted effort from rental car companies to better educate and assist customers in using EVs effectively and confidently.
