It may become an option for you the next time you travel and need to rent a car. AAA says more and more drivers are becoming interested in electric vehicles and some are “taking one for a spin” as a rental during their vacation.
Recently, Hertz Rental Cars has been investing heavily in moving their fleet of rental vehicles to electric ones with brands from Tesla, Polestar, and GM.
In 2022, there were 760,000 EV Sales in the country, a 65% increase from 2021. Drivers, though, said to AAA that cost, range anxiety and the availability of charging stations are some of their biggest concerns before they give up an internal combustion vehicle for an EV.
“You want to drive an EV under different situations, so you understand how it handles,” said Mike Formanowicz, AAA Western and Central New York Driver Training Manager. “Renting an EV while on vacation gives drivers the opportunity to feel how it accelerates in traffic or merging onto a highway. Drivers should get comfortable with the rental in a parking lot before proceeding into traffic.”
For those considering renting an EV vehicle for their next trip, AAA says there are some things to keep in mind. Make sure the rental agent explains how far you can actually drive on a single charge and how it may change depending on the number of passengers in the vehicle and/or luggage.
Ensure when you’re also booking a hotel, there is a charging area for EV vehicles. Make sure when you head to your destination, to plan on where you may have to stop briefly to charge up the car. Lastly, make sure you understand the technology that is inside the vehicle. Gauges on an eclectic car may look different than you’re used to.
