Curious About EVs? Try Renting Before Buying

Many Americans still have reservations about trading in their gas-powered car for a fully electric vehicle. Whether it’s range anxiety, concerns about charging or simply fear of the unknown, some are turning to car rental companies to take the EV life for a spin and see if it’s right for them.

Why EV Rentals?

Car dealerships don’t always have unsold EVs on the lot available for test drives, so people are getting their feet wet by renting EVs for short road trips or to putter around town on the weekend. Driving an EV with no long-term commitment and minimal up-front cost or sales pressure is appealing to folks either on the fence about EVs or planning to buy one in the future.

“Renting is a great way to test drive an EV and experience all they have to offer,” said Laura Smith, Executive Vice president of Global Sales and Experience for Hertz.

AAA research has shown that one of the best ways to ease concerns about range anxiety and charging infrastructure is to literally put people in the driver’s seat, and Hertz is happy to help.

What It’s Like to Rent an EV From Hertz

The booking process is just like renting a gas-powered car. After selecting the EV option, a renter can choose the model they’d like. Once the reservation is made, the experience differs.

To ease first-time EV renters into the drivers’ seat, Hertz sends a series of emails tailored to the specific vehicle that go over the basics as well as what to expect in terms of the quieter ride, performance, how to shift into gear or park, what regenerative braking is all about, and so on.

The emails are rich with links for deeper dives into the particular EV’s quirks, such as how to engage with climate controls, how to turn on the hazard lights, or what everything displayed on the instrument cluster means.

“In addition to a knowledgeable staff who are well-equipped to assist our customers, we provide a variety of information and resources on how to drive and charge an EV, so people feel comfortable and confident when hitting the road,” Smith said.

Perhaps the most important topic on the minds of EV tryers is how — and where — to charge an EV. While Hertz only requires rented EVs to be returned with at least 75% battery life remaining, many renters hope to try out charging, in addition to EV driving. Hertz offers detailed explanations on how to charge each model in its fleet in addition to finding public charging locations using in-car systems. The company even gives a thorough explanation of the differences between Level 1, Level 2 and fast charging.

Based on the emails and resources on the Hertz website, an EV renter will get a thorough education on EVs and EV charging even before they get in and buckle up for the first time.

So, if you’re interested in driving an EV but don’t know where to start, a rental might be the perfect way to get up to speed with EVs.

AAA members can save up to 20% on Hertz rentals.