Everything You Need to Know About Electric Car Rentals

According to the EPA, the average passenger vehicle releases 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Thankfully, more and more drivers in North America are switching to electric automobiles to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Even car rental companies are adding more electric vehicles to their fleets, giving their customers the option of taking an environmentally-friendly vacation.

Would you like to learn more about electric car rentals? If so, keep reading because, in this article, we'll review everything you need to know about driving an electric vehicle rental for the first time! 

Where to Find Electric Car Rentals

Renters seeking electric cars have more options than ever before. Not only can they drive sustainably, but they can do so in style with models like the: 

• Tesla Model Y

• Tesla Model 3

• BMW i3

• BMW i8

There are also innovative electric cars by popular automotive companies like:

• Polestar

• Hyundai

• Nissan

• Toyota 

No matter what kind of electric vehicle you want to take on your next vacation, you can find rental fleets that include them. Let's look at some major rental car companies offering electric cars. 

AVR

We are proud to offer renters electric vehicles, including cargo vans. For more information about the availability of electric cars, contact the AVR van rental location you wish to rent from. 

Avis

Avis is another rental company that has recently worked to expand its stock of electric vehicles. One of the cars they feature on their website is the Tesla Model 3, but they also have Kia Niros. 

Hertz

Hertz has one of the biggest fleets of electric vehicles. They offer both full-electric and partial-emission rentals and have cars like Polestar, Tesla, and more.

Sixt

Sixt offers customers electric car rentals from automakers like BMV. However, they don't always have electric vehicles available when you go to book online. 

Turo

Turo isn't really a rental company, but it is a popular car-sharing platform. Users can book Rivian electric pickup trucks, SUVs, and cars. They also offer Teslas, Nissans, Toyotas, and much more. Of course, availability depends on your location. 

What to Know Before Renting an Electric Car

You should know a few things if it's your first time renting an electric car. Keep reading to discover some essential tips that will prepare you for your EV rental! 

Learn How to Drive Your Rental

Most of the principles of driving an electric car are the same as driving one powered by gas. However, you should be aware of a few minor differences before you get behind the wheel of an EV for the first time. 

One of the most significant differences is the lack of noise electric cars produce. Without it, some drivers find it difficult to gauge their speed and may go over the speed limit without realizing it. 

Another difference is that electric vehicles accelerate quicker than automatic vehicles since the torque is immediately available. You may need to be lighter on the throttle when driving an electric car. 

Lastly, there isn't a real need to brake in electric vehicles. The car starts to brake as soon as you take your foot off the gas. This can be a little tricky when you start driving an EV, but most people get used to it within a few hours.  

Know When to Charge Your Vehicle

Just as you need to remain alert to the fuel levels in gas-powered cars, you'll want to make sure you know when it's time to charge an electric vehicle. 

The rental agency will let you know the range your vehicle can travel before needing to be charged, but you'll also be able to see the battery level while driving. It's never a good idea to let it get under 30 percent, so when you get close, it's time to charge your electric car. 

Of course, you may need to charge sooner than expected because the vehicle's range depends on several factors, including:

• Driving style

• Climate

• Use of air conditioning/heat

That's why we recommend planning to charge before you think you'll need to instead of waiting until your range is under 20 miles. 

Plot Where to Charge Your Vehicle

Of course, knowing where to charge your vehicle is just as important as knowing when to do so. 

Avoid waiting to locate public charging stations until your battery is running low. You may find out there are no charging stations for miles, especially on road trips. 

Before heading out on a long-distance journey, take note of the electric charging stations on your route. You can plan where to charge in advance using maps of public charging stations. Some apps show nearby places to charge your electric vehicle, so consider downloading these.

After you book your rental car:

1. Check how long the vehicle's battery lasts.

2. Remember that you should charge before it gets lower than 30% capacity.

3. Search for available EV charger points at different spots on your route.

4. Look within the 50-mile span before you might need to charge the battery. 

Since it may take up to an hour to recharge your battery to optimal levels, we recommend planning meals or fun activities around charging times. Most charging stations are located near restaurants, shopping malls, or other places you may want to go to stretch your legs. 

Some families bring roller skates, bikes, skateboards, or board games to entertain themselves while they wait for their vehicles to charge. Or, if you find a charging station near a park, museum, or other attraction, you can take advantage of the opportunity to explore scenic small towns along the way. 

Following these steps, you can avoid the risk of running out of battery before getting to an EV charging station.

Seek a Final Destination with Chargers

Some destinations lend themselves more to traveling with electric vehicles than others. Usually, cities have more public charging points than rural areas, but you may be able to find a hotel that offers EV charging on-site no matter where you go. 

If you're going to remote destinations, such as national parks, you'll need to plan more thoroughly to make traveling with an EV possible. The same is true if you're going on a cross-country trip or through states where stations are few and far between. 

Due to the availability of charging stations, these are some of the best destinations for electric cars: 

• Los Angeles, California

• San Francisco, California

• Washington D.C

• New York City

• Miami, Florida

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Las Vegas, Nevada

You won't need to worry about finding chargers or plotting them in advance within these cities, with makes for a more enjoyable trip.

Find Your Perfect Rental Car with AVR

If you're hitting the road, choose one of AVR's electric vehicles to get you there. We make pick-up and drop-off seamless so you can spend less time worrying about your car rental and more time enjoying the journey. 

Additionally, EV rental is an excellent opportunity to test drive a model you may want to purchase. 

Check out our electric vehicles, and if you don't see what you're looking for, contact your local rental office. We'll help you reserve an electric car so you can travel sustainably!