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Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

bloomberg.com

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Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#301

Post by s0rce »

rchaud wrote: post #299
s0rce wrote: post #137

I rented a Tesla from Hertz once in Houston and the whole experience was terrible. Got to the counter and the agent first suggested that I take a gas car for $25/day. I was confused because that was so cheap, although the Tesla was already heavily discounted. Apparently, this was $25/day above what I had paid for the model 3 and it was for a compact economy car. I stuck with the Tesla. The agent warned me that repair…

Maybe the rep suggested the gas car because you hadn't previously driven a Tesla, and by your own estimation, they were providing lower wait times and faster service for their gas fleet.

I hadn't told the agent at the desk I never drove a Tesla, that was the guy who handed me the keys. It seemed mostly about concerns related to charging and high costs of repairs.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#302

Post by AlbertCory »

pton_xd wrote: post #260
rondini wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As a second anecdote, I also rented one from Hertz (Polestar 2) and while it could navigate me to charging stations, at least 50% of the time I was unable to charge at a given location due to technical issues. It was bad enough that I had to divert 30 minutes off my planned route to find a working charger. I look forward to owning an EV someday but the rental experience right now and in my state was VERY stressful.

I had the same experience... in Sunnyvale / SF, of all places! I was shocked at how bad the charging infrastructure is for non-Teslas.

Indeed: for awhile I was going to a place on Saratoga near Doyle in west San Jose, and they had a non-Tesla charging station in the parking lot. Almost always, every spot was occupied, even in the middle of a weekday.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#303

Post by ibejoeb »

Tempest1981 wrote: post #285
adfm wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Adrian Cockcroft wrote about his Hertz experiences back in April. Update: Bad experiences renting electric cars from Hertz https://adrianco.medium.com/experiences-renting-electric-car...

Seems like a lot of random complaints, from mobile apps to lane-keeping software. Not much seems specific to EVs, more just about new technologies. I guess you can rent a $20k Kia and avoid all the new tech.

If a brand popped up and offered a gasoline ICE with old toyota-level reliability and longevity, and without electronics (save for maybe bluetooth for some music) I'd pay a sizeable premium for it.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#304

Post by rootusrootus »

dougmwne wrote: post #296
hangonhn wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a reason why body damage on an EV would cost more to repair?

Yes, because the Model 3 incorporates quite a bit of aluminum in the body. This is good for weight savings, but more difficult to work with. The root cause is that batteries are too heavy so other components must be made lighter.

The Model S has a fair amount of aluminum in the body (about 400 pounds or so, IIRC). The Model 3 is much more biased towards steel for most of the body, due to cost.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#305

Post by rootusrootus »

s0rce wrote: post #137

I rented a Tesla from Hertz once in Houston and the whole experience was terrible. Got to the counter and the agent first suggested that I take a gas car for $25/day. I was confused because that was so cheap, although the Tesla was already heavily discounted. Apparently, this was $25/day above what I had paid for the model 3 and it was for a compact economy car. I stuck with the Tesla. The agent warned me that repair…

That sounds like every experience I have with Hertz (I've never rented an EV from them). And most other rental companies for that matter. I've started using Turo more often.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#306

Post by asveikau »

legitster wrote: post #240
asveikau wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess when I say car culture, I don't mean enthusiasts and tinkerers. I mean that general American culture is car-dependent. People think their car is very important and part of their identity. I see on social media all the time people say that lack of a car is a sign of struggle, that you haven't made it, that you can't be trusted. That sort of thing.

I don't necessarily love it as a characterization because Americans also have a love of huge refrigerators and couches and washing machines but no one says we have a refrigerator culture (even though it may be true). When you think about the number of boring base-level Corollas that get sold, it's hard to think of it as an identity thing. I think a fairer description would be that American culture values space, perso…

Car ownership is not really independence. Eg. It isn't very independent to sit in traffic with a crowd of other car owners, waiting for them to move so you can also move. Then you are also dependent on fueling stations and other infrastructure.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#307

Post by nerdawson »

s0rce wrote: post #137

I rented a Tesla from Hertz once in Houston and the whole experience was terrible. Got to the counter and the agent first suggested that I take a gas car for $25/day. I was confused because that was so cheap, although the Tesla was already heavily discounted. Apparently, this was $25/day above what I had paid for the model 3 and it was for a compact economy car. I stuck with the Tesla. The agent warned me that repair…

That's a shame. I hired a Tesla from them for 3 days in the UK and I was pretty happy overall.

They were clear with me that I needed to return it with at least 80% charge or pay an extra fee for them to recharge it on my behalf.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#308

Post by rootusrootus »

wolverine876 wrote: post #288
saiya-jin wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am not a huge tesla fan but to expect that car rental employees will babysit every customer and show them all the cars in detail is... unrealistic. I was once spending maybe an hour to figure out how to start and move a rental mercedes after picking it up, and next to me was some german guy in exactly same situation with same model. Eventually we managed to figure it out with phones.

> to expect that car rental employees will babysit every customer and show them all the cars in detail is... unrealistic. Not every customer needs explanations. I think it's completely realistic to expect a business to show me how to use what they are selling to me. How they profit from that is their problem - when they start having compassion for customers' finances, I'll have it for theirs.

I don't think it's likely they'll change their process just for EVs. I've never had them explain a car to me, they just toss me the keys and point in the general direction of the car. Figuring out how to make it work has always been my own responsibility.

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#309

Post by MBCook »

When I rented from Hertz late last year I asked about how people felt about the EVs.

The agent said people used to EVs loved them, and almost everyone else wouldn’t touch them with a 10’ pole.

Between the cars dropping significantly in value (all EVs have), the lack of maintenance savings if no one is driving them, the cost to repair body panels when hit, and most people not wanting to touch them I can’t blame Hertz.

Just too early for the mass market in most places and the wrong brand choice due to repair costs (though choice was very limited at the time).

Re: Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars

#310

Post by rootusrootus »

CharlieDigital wrote: post #183

Not sure about the economics for the rental companies, but for a consumer, there are practical reasons why electric aren't quite as attractive. When you rent a car, more than likely you will be in unfamiliar territory. So it seems that it just adds to the stress of travel and yet another thing you have to pay attention to. Will my hotel have charging spots? Will I be able to charge at the client site I'm visiting? Ho…

I'd be reluctant to rent an EV at this point. But I own one, and I for sure won't ever being going back to gas. I can't see myself giving up the convenience, or paying $50 every week to fill it up. And only at special locations that stock gasoline. That's a hard sell.
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