Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Demand For EVs As Rentals Are Dropping

    William Maley

    Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com

    October 16, 2013

    Range Anxiety. A condition that still plagues electric vehicles. But it isn't limited to prospective customers who are worried about not having enough juice, it has now spread to rental customers. A number of rental car agencies have now started offering electric vehicles. This allows consumers to try an EV. But renters are returning the EVs much sooner and exchanging them for gas vehicle.

    “People are very keen to try it, but they will switch out of the contract part way through. Range anxiety makes them think they can’t get to a charging station,” said Lee Broughton, head of sustainability at Enterprise.

    Enterprise data shows that on average, renters trade EVs in 1.6 days into the rental period compared to the 6 to 7 days of a standard gas vehicle.

    Christopher Agnew, an analyst at MKM Holdings LLC says that a longer range would help renter's range anxiety, especially in places where they don't where they're going.

    Now you can rent a Tesla Model S if you go to certain place, but expect to pay a pretty penny. MPG Car Rental based out of Venice, CA rents a Model S for $500 per day. To put that in perspective, a Prius Plug-In costs $99 per day.

    Despite these setbacks, rental car companies say they will keep buying EVs for their fleets.

    Source: Bloomberg

    William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Interesting...I don't think I've noticed an EV on rental car lots..will have to see if my local Enterprise has any hybrids or EVs on the lot when I'm there Friday; I've reserved a CTS (or equivalent as they say) for my little weekend road trip to Fontana.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I haven't talked you out of Enterprise yet?! Go with National starting in 2014, you'll love the Emerald Executive Elite status I'm sure you'll qualify for.

    I've had a regular Prius through them before.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I haven't talked you out of Enterprise yet?! Go with National starting in 2014, you'll love the Emerald Executive Elite status I'm sure you'll qualify for.

    I've had a regular Prius through them before.

    Enterprise is a 1/2 mile from my house, without having to go to the airport and pay the extra airport fees. I still use Alamo when I fly in somewhere, will give National a try on my next such trip..

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The difference National really kicks in when you hit elite status.... that's when you rent a "Corolla or similar" and end up in a 300c.

    If you have a National number, you can use it at Enterprise to earn National status. So if nothing else get the Emerald Club and then credit your Enterprise rentals to National.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Lovely how electric car proponents in this thread are talking about everything except the posted topic of the thread. :roflmao:

    Because it's bizarre that electric cars are actually an option for rental agencies. Plus, they're charging major premiums for their use. Electric's don't fit in the business model for rental car companies.

    That's not an electric car issue.

    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The point of the article, in case you hadn't noticed is... people are returning electric rentals and exchanging them for something useful for the duration of the time they need a rental. Because they don't want to be stranded. Hello.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The point of the article, in case you hadn't noticed is... people are returning electric rentals and exchanging them for something useful for the duration of the time they need a rental. Because they don't want to be stranded. Hello.

    People are returning electric's because rental's are typically used for long-distance travel or for business trips. Neither situation is good for an electric vehicle and those are the two primary reasons of why rental vehicle agencies exist.

    That's why it's bizarre electric vehicles are even are offered by these agencies. It's not that electric's are bad. It's that electrics don't meet the needs of a typical rental car consumer.

    Electrics = good.

    Bad businesses decisions = bad.

    Edited by FAPTurbo
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    They are renting them for the fantasy. Returning them early in the contract time for the reality. There are an infinite number of reasons why someone would rent a car in the first place. For example in my line of work, the majority of people don't drive the rental far at all, while their car is in the shop for body repair. A big percentage of Enterprise's business comes from bodyshops.

    Edited by ocnblu
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The point of the article, in case you hadn't noticed is... people are returning electric rentals and exchanging them for something useful for the duration of the time they need a rental. Because they don't want to be stranded. Hello.

    I'd rent an EV for certain trips, but I didn't even know it was an option and not at $500 a day.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I'd rent an EV for certain trips, but I didn't even know it was an option and not at $500 a day.

    I assume other EVs such as the Nissan Leaf would be cheaper than the Model S rate I listed in the story.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
    • Not just iPhones... He tariffed Canadian wood the first time around as Pres and the prices of wood skyrocketed so American home builders bought American wood which was and is more expensive than Canadian wood.  I guess that is good for American wood producers. But for the fact that house prices also skyrocketed.  And considering that Canada and US have a more or less good trading thing going on...so not that good.  Not for the US and not good for Canada.  But Donald thinks otherwise. And all the folk that voted for him this time around think that the economy will get better?  I hope so for their sake. But Elon and Jeff B's billions rose quite a bit upon the announcement of his re-election.  I wonder if those  people that voted for him, I wonder if their wealth also rose instantly?    You poor bastards... You have no idea what is coming to you... (those that voted for him.  With the excemption of the rich of course)     Donnie Rides Again
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search