Renting an EV from Hertz

[ridgebackpilot]

I had business in Phoenix yesterday, so I flew in and rented an EV from Hertz for the day. It was the cheapest option on their roster, because no one wants to rent them. Most people are not familiar with EV’s, so the rental car companies are heavily discounting them.

Hertz gave me a small Mercedes EOS SUV. It was fun to drive, but frankly no competition for the Mustang Mach-E. The biggest problem I encountered was finding a charger. There are very few Level 3 charging locations in Phoenix. I finally located an Electrify America station at a shopping mall, but when I got there, a half dozen cars were waiting, and I didn’t have time to charge.

When I returned the vehicle, Hertz charged me $25 to recharge it. Still, even considering that fee, the EV rental was far cheaper than any other car on the Hertz lot. I’d do it again to have the opportunity to drive a different kind of EV. But my experience certainly revealed the difficulty of finding chargers when you need them. We need to do a better job of improving the infrastructure if we want the rest of the public to adopt EVs.

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[AjzRide]

You got lucky:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/hertz-is-charging-tesla-model-3-renter-277-fee-for-gas-wont-back-down

 

[ridgebackpilot]

You got lucky:

https://www.thedrive.com/news/hertz-is-charging-tesla-model-3-renter-277-fee-for-gas-wont-back-down

Hertz now has a flat fee to recharge their EV rentals: $35 for the public and $25 for their Gold and President’s Club members.

 

[zvez]

it seems they'd be smart to have DC chargers available so those renting their EVs there can come back and charge if other resources are limited

 

[RickMachE]

EA

it seems they'd be smart to have DC chargers available so those renting their EVs there can come back and charge if other resources are limited

Many Hertz locations charge on EA chargers, filling them up.

 

[jay1122]

wait what? You rented a MB EQS from hertz? Didn't know they have $100K car for rental. And you think the $100K MB EQS is no competition to your MME?

 

[JeffGo]

I rented a Tesla 3 from Avis in San Diego in Feb 2022. No problem finding Tesla superchargers, and no cost. I did have to charge to at least 70% on return to avoid a fee. There was a 24 charger at a Qualcom office building which was on my way back. Only 2 other cars showed up while we were there.

 

[Tampamike]

Hertz now has a flat fee to recharge their EV rentals: $35 for the public and $25 for their Gold and President’s Club members.

That’s a lot more reasonable than their gas refueling charges. For $25 I might just drop it off.

 

[david_quick]

I’m gonna find out how this goes. In July I rented a car to drive back from the airport and drop off at the local Hertz. I chose an EV. I will just charge it at the house once I gat home. I am assuming it will be a Tesla but we’ll see.

 

[ridgebackpilot]

wait what? You rented a MB EQS from hertz? Didn't know they have $100K car for rental. And you think the $100K MB EQS is no competition to your MME?

It was a Mercedes EQB, their smallest electric SUV. About the size of a Ford Escape. Probably not worth $100K! Didn’t compare favorably to my GTPE.

 

[ridgebackpilot]

I’m gonna find out how this goes. In July I rented a car to drive back from the airport and drop off at the local Hertz. I chose an EV. I will just charge it at the house once I gat home. I am assuming it will be a Tesla but we’ll see.

When I picked mine up at PHX, they had no Teslas. Offered me a Kia EV or Mercedes SUV. They do have Mach-Es as well but they didn’t have one for me that was charged.

 

[david_quick]

I had business in Phoenix yesterday, so I flew in and rented an EV from Hertz for the day. It was the cheapest option on their roster, because no one wants to rent them. Most people are not familiar with EV’s, so the rental car companies are heavily discounting them.

Hertz gave me a small Mercedes EOS SUV. It was fun to drive, but frankly no competition for the Mustang Mach-E. The biggest problem I encountered was finding a charger. There are very few Level 3 charging locations in Phoenix. I finally located an Electrify America station at a shopping mall, but when I got there, a half dozen cars were waiting, and I didn’t have time to charge.

When I returned the vehicle, Hertz charged me $25 to recharge it. Still, even considering that fee, the EV rental was far cheaper than any other car on the Hertz lot. I’d do it again to have the opportunity to drive a different kind of EV. But my experience certainly revealed the difficulty of finding chargers when you need them. We need to do a better job of improving the infrastructure if we want the rest of the public to adopt EVs.

Very few level 3 chargers in Phoenix? Filtered for just CCS.

 

[ridgebackpilot]

Lots of Tesla Superchargers in Phoenix, but few EA or others where I could charge my rental Mercedes EQB. And none near the airport or rental car center, of course.

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