I really like the benefits of driving an Electric Vehicle (EV) With the growing charging networks, it has become easier and easier to charge the car during my rental. Major rental companies like Avis have expanded their EV fleets, making them more accessible than ever. The only major headache that I have had with renting an EV is the obligation to return it fully charged.
This policy, while mirroring traditional gas car rentals (return full or pay a premium), presents a unique set of challenges that can catch even seasoned travelers off guard. Actually, most car rental shops say to return it to the level you rent it at. This is mostly 95% to 100% charged.
The reason why this is a problem is that with a gasoline car, topping off the tank is usually a quick five-minute stop at any of the thousands of gas stations. With an EV, the logistics are entirely different:
Charging Time is Hours, Not Minutes: Even with a Level 2 charger (the most common public charging speed), a full charge from near empty can take anywhere from 4-8 hours. A Level 3 DC Fast Charger (DCFC) can significantly reduce this to 20-60 minutes for a substantial charge. When I am returning a car especially to the airport, I typically do not have the extra 30 minutes to charge the car. It creates a timing issue for me.
Add to the fact that there are few fast chargers near an airport or rental return location. That means that you can at best find a level two charger. This only adds time to your return.
The big question is what happens if you fail to return the car fully charged. Rental agencies tend to penalize people who fail to meet the fully charged requirement. They take the penalty rate that they charge for ICE cars into account even though the cost to charge the cars at their site is a small amount. As a result, the fees can be substantial. My most recent AVIS car rental said they would charge $35 if the car was less than 5% below what they rented it at and $70 if less than 75% of the level they rented at. Crazy fee.
I have not seen a pre-paid fee option but I would be interested in determining whether it makes sense. That would alleviate a concern for me.
Based upon the status of where rental agencies are with returning an EV, I lean towards renting ICE cars to avoid the headaches of returning the car and being charged an exorbitant fee. They really need to clarify this renting option.