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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

#361

Post by nerdawson »

seattle_spring wrote: post #321
nerdawson wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

That is such a backwards policy. I rented a Niro EV from Enterprise and they said I could literally return it with a 5% charge; they’d just plug it in and charge it overnight on site.

I'm used to hiring ICE cars with a full-to-full policy so being expected to bring an EV back with at least 80% charge didn't seem unusual.

Enterprise's policy sounds more convenient but Hertz were the only company offering a Tesla over here at a (very) reasonable price.

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

#362

Post by ender341341 »

surfmike wrote: post #349
ender341341 wrote: post #327

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Other possible reasons - We're in a recession (at least if you aren't upper middle class or above) - Dealers are still acting like there's a supply shortage, so prices are still up but lots are full - Everyone (pretty much) but tesla has commited to migrating to NACS, so if you buy a car now you'll need an adapter, and depending on where you are tesla's chargers are have half the speed if you're using the adapter (li…

I thought NACS _is_ Tesla's charger? i.e. they're been migrated from the start?

Correct, on rereading what I wrote I see its confusingly written

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

#363

Post by Scoundreller »

mulmen wrote: post #297
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 have rented several electric vehicles and while charging is more difficult than getting gas it isn’t really an issue. The most challenging experience was an electric camper. It had a 100 mile max range. I drove it from LA to Seattle without major issue. The only pucker factor was around Silicon Valley where I struggled to find functional fast chargers. No shortage of chargers, just very few that work. The state of…

> It had a 100 mile max range. I drove it from LA to Seattle without major issue.

uhhhhhhhh, you stopped to charge every ~2 hours (12 charging stops minimum)?

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

#364

Post by heavenlyblue »

ender341341 wrote: post #327
fsckboy wrote: post #322

I've been seeing a lot of headlines the last month about demand for EVs falling. Of course, it could just be a PR campaign by Big Fossil, I'm not in a position to judge that. I had another idea about it and I'm wondering what other people think: by buying Twitter/X, Musk has waded deeply into the culture war, and we see on HN plenty of people who just can't stand to see his name. It seems a sizable community, could t…

Other possible reasons - We're in a recession (at least if you aren't upper middle class or above) - Dealers are still acting like there's a supply shortage, so prices are still up but lots are full - Everyone (pretty much) but tesla has commited to migrating to NACS, so if you buy a car now you'll need an adapter, and depending on where you are tesla's chargers are have half the speed if you're using the adapter (li…

People who aren't upper middle class can't afford a tesla

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

#365

Post by grecy »

fsckboy wrote: post #322

I've been seeing a lot of headlines the last month about demand for EVs falling. Of course, it could just be a PR campaign by Big Fossil, I'm not in a position to judge that. I had another idea about it and I'm wondering what other people think: by buying Twitter/X, Musk has waded deeply into the culture war, and we see on HN plenty of people who just can't stand to see his name. It seems a sizable community, could t…

> It could just be a PR campaign by , I'm not in a position to judge that.

The really wild part about the world today is that is true of literally everything you ever hear. There is a very good chance there are billions (trillions?) of dollars on the other side promoting whatever narrative they want to further their own goals.

"Fake news" was just the first thing out of Pandora's Box that I doubt we'll ever close.

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

#366

Post by AYBABTME »

ender341341 wrote: post #342
distortedsignal wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tesla's changers are *half(?) the speed...? I hadn't heard this.

most existing tesla chargers are 400v (I believe the cybertruck is their first to use 800v), so for other fast charging cars (like kia/hyundai GMP based ev6/ioniq 5) you only get half the speed, so as they update this will start to fall away as an issue.

The existing chargers for these cars are much slower than the slower Tesla chargers, so it's not like these cars will face an overall worse experience.

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

#367

Post by smsm42 »

As I have been traveling last year, I've seen several promotions from car rentals to get an electric car. Never took it - first of all, I don't want to drive Tesla because it's not safe (no physical environmental controls, which means, especially on unknown roads, distracted driving, not worth the risk), but I also don't need the trouble of figuring out where I can charge it, would the charger fit, etc. I know with a gas car I can use maps app to find a gas station, it'd probably be within 10 minutes drive and it will work, and I'll be on my way in 5 minutes after. I don't have such guarantee with an electric car. Also, I've been recently on a trip with a friend and they rented an electric (not Tesla). We had to build all our plans around "where can I charge it".

I'd probably go for a hybrid, since it doesn't have any downsides like that, but not for fully electric. Of course, it's just my own opinion, but I suspect there are a lot of casual renters that are like me, and Hertz is seeing that.

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

#368

Post by 10u152 »

afavour wrote: post #295
schainks wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had an awesome experience with a Hertz Polestar in Italy last summer. The trim was basic, but the suspension was superior to a Tesla, especially on Italian roads. Road noise was average at highway speeds with the cheaper trim.

Agreed. Got a Polestar for a surprisingly cheap price on Hertz recently and I was really impressed with it. If I were in the market I think I’d take it over a Tesla.

Rented a Polestar from Hertz last year. It died in the driveway at 80% battery and wouldn't come on. Hertz had to have it towed 350km to the nearest Polestar service centre. Hertz refused to deliver a replacement car and just refunded the rental. Did not make me love Hertz or Polestar

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

#369

Post by Scoundreller »

My other issue with renting EVs is my credit card insurance's limit will be based on MSRP, which is a problem because:

1. EVs are more expensive up-front (supposed to pay for it through reduced opex)

2. ex-US/Canada, MSRP includes VAT, inflating it.

3. Nobody effectively pays MSRP for EVs because of various tax credits.

4. Every CC's CDW policy I've read said that they don't cover you at all if you exceed MSRP

Maybe my insurance will think #2 is an oversight, but I don't want to test that. Some say "MSRP exclusive of taxes", but again, I don't want that fight.

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

#370

Post by eps »

afavour wrote: post #295
schainks wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had an awesome experience with a Hertz Polestar in Italy last summer. The trim was basic, but the suspension was superior to a Tesla, especially on Italian roads. Road noise was average at highway speeds with the cheaper trim.

Agreed. Got a Polestar for a surprisingly cheap price on Hertz recently and I was really impressed with it. If I were in the market I think I’d take it over a Tesla.

* ... low price. Prices can't be cheap. Pet peeve, sorry.
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