Hertz to sell 20k EVs in shift back to gas-powered cars • Hacker News Board

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

#491

Post by gnicholas » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:04 AM UTC

NewJazz wrote: post #473

gnicholas wrote: post #423

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't love looking for gas stations before returning a vehicle, but I know I can find one within a few minutes, they will pretty much always be "functional" and available, and it will take only a few minutes to fill up. With an EV, I might have to go 10+ minutes out of my way (doubled for roundtrip), they might not work, and they might be full. And if I have to return with 80% charge or higher, it could easily take…

If you return with <80%, what happens? Do they charge a flat fee or by the kWh? Most cars will taper charging speeds as you approach 80, 90 %. And then you have to drive from the charger to the car rental place. Hmm.

Yeah, I dunno! With gas, they would typically just charge you some exorbitant price per gallon, but if it's just for a gallon it would only end up being 8 bucks or something. I have no idea how they deal with electricity, but I could imagine the penalty being pretty high if it means they can't turn the car around for an hour or more.

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

#492

Post by wolverine876 » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:10 AM UTC

rootusrootus wrote: post #308

wolverine876 wrote: post #288

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

> I don't think it's likely

Whether it's likely and whether we should expect it are different questions. Don't let them normalize lower standards, as if customers should support some right to higher profit margins. Unless they are giving you a cut, profit margins are 100% not your problem.

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

#493

Post by gnicholas » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:12 AM UTC

rurp wrote: post #474

dylan604 wrote: post #432

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be fine ditching bluetooth. I'd be fine with an AUX cable. Most people have their phone on some charging mount anyways, so there's already a cable running to the location so wireless isn't much of an advantage here

Yep I can confirm this works quite well since it's what I used for over a decade until I got a new car a couple years ago. Bluetooth can be annoyingly flaky in many cars but plugging in a cable literally just works. My old sound system and traditional controls worked great and I have considered replacing the more modern system that came with my current car with something more like the old one.

My pet peeve about BT in cars is that it can interrupt phone calls when your spouse starts the car or arrives home. I guess it's nice that cars have good BT range, but it would be nice if it could sense whether the phone is in the car, or perhaps 30 feet away, in my bedroom (and I'm on a call!).

For now, I stick to wired USB...

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

#494

Post by peplee » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:12 AM UTC

Rented a model y last month from them and drove nearly 6,000 miles round trip to visit family out of state. Had to stop more than I did when I’ve previously done the drive in my ICE car, but other than that, very smooth experience. The supercharger costs were more than I expected, but basically a wash with gas. More chargers of course are needed (looking at you SE Arizona and West Texas), and it’d be nice to see EVs have a useable range of 300+ miles of highway driving between charging stops.

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

#495

Post by LegitShady » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:13 AM UTC

dreamcompiler wrote: post #482

Zanni wrote: post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a similar process the first time I rented a Tesla from Hertz (about a year ago). Counter-person was surly, gave me the key for the wrong vehicle (!) and gave me incorrect instructions on how to use the key. Hertz did send out an email in advance on how to use a Model 3/Y, including key entry (incorrect, unfortunately), door operation and charging. Recently I rented one again, and the process was much improved,…

I don't know why Hertz is making a big deal out of bringing the cars back charged, other than as an excuse to make some extra cash. The cars probably sit there long enough that they could plug all their Teslas into 120V outlets and charge them fully; their only expense would be a little bit higher electric bill. Now whether they should charge them fully is another story. No higher than 80% is best for long battery li…

they probably make a sizeable amount of money on people returning cars without enough gas and thats one less revenue stream if they dont do the same for charge

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

#496

Post by paganel » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:15 AM UTC

kirse wrote: post #471

dcchambers wrote: post #453

Im bullish on EVs but I feel like rental cars are one of the worst places for the current generation of EVs. EVs are best for the types of driving we do on a day-to-day basis. Short commutes in areas we know well. Charge at home over night and 95% of the year you never worry about charging. Renting a car means I'm usually either driving long distances or im somewhere new and I don't know about the local charging infr…

I feel like rental cars are one of the worst places for the current generation of EVs. This was my recent experience. I was offered an EV car as a rental upgrade in a major city because the local rental place didn't have an EV charger. I figured what the hell because it was a relaxed holiday vacation. Turns out that was a hilariously bad idea. Ended up spending at least 5-6 hours of my week vacation trying to avoid t…

It is a knock on EVs as longs as the missing/lacking/very deficient charging infrastructure is what literally makes the EVs work or fail. No suitable (and fast) charging means EVs are meant to fail, and deservedly so.

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

#497

Post by paganel » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:18 AM UTC

t0mas88 wrote: post #253

1970-01-01 wrote: post #78

This is due to high body damage repair costs and has nothing to do with repairing an electric powertrain: >Let me share a bit more context on the damage equation. First, while conventional maintenance on electric vehicles remained lower relative to comparable ICE vehicles in Q3, higher collision and damage repairs on EVs continue to weigh on our results and negatively impacted EBITDA. For context, collision and damag…

The title says "EVs" but really it's "Teslas" they're not selling their Polestars.

They're not purchasing Polestars in order to replace those Teslas, either.

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

#498

Post by computershit » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:18 AM UTC

kbos87 wrote: post #487

kirse wrote: post #471

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like rental cars are one of the worst places for the current generation of EVs. This was my recent experience. I was offered an EV car as a rental upgrade in a major city because the local rental place didn't have an EV charger. I figured what the hell because it was a relaxed holiday vacation. Turns out that was a hilariously bad idea. Ended up spending at least 5-6 hours of my week vacation trying to avoid t…

I'm sorry that happened to you. I can say that having an EV in a place you know and as part of a familiar routine is a very different experience.

As long as you live where you can place your own charger. I've ridden with countless Uber drivers who rent EVs from Uber whose experience would disagree with such a blanket statement.

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

#499

Post by cptskippy » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:19 AM UTC

dcchambers wrote: post #453

Im bullish on EVs but I feel like rental cars are one of the worst places for the current generation of EVs. EVs are best for the types of driving we do on a day-to-day basis. Short commutes in areas we know well. Charge at home over night and 95% of the year you never worry about charging. Renting a car means I'm usually either driving long distances or im somewhere new and I don't know about the local charging infr…

I never rented an EV but everyone I encountered with an EV rental had received it unexpectedly from Hertz and was struggling to charge it.

It you want to give people a poor opinion of EVs, dump them in a rental EV and tell them it needs to be returned with 80% charge and don't offer any support on how to do that.

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

#500

Post by xwolfi » Fri, Jan 12, 2024, 5:22 AM UTC

paganel wrote: post #496

kirse wrote: post #471

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I feel like rental cars are one of the worst places for the current generation of EVs. This was my recent experience. I was offered an EV car as a rental upgrade in a major city because the local rental place didn't have an EV charger. I figured what the hell because it was a relaxed holiday vacation. Turns out that was a hilariously bad idea. Ended up spending at least 5-6 hours of my week vacation trying to avoid t…

It is a knock on EVs as longs as the missing/lacking/very deficient charging infrastructure is what literally makes the EVs work or fail. No suitable (and fast) charging means EVs are meant to fail, and deservedly so.

Yeah but petrol cars weren't serviced as well as now when they started (arguably with a much longer range per much faster "charge", maybe). EVs are probably going to be a good idea, it'll just take time.

Imagine in 1995 saying emails will never replace sending around documents at the office, just because there wasn't any infra yet. Wait a bit, or even help !