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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

#541

Post by Zanni »

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…

The location I rented from didn't have a fast charger, and the first time I rented, my car had just been dropped off a few hours earlier and was still charging.

Setting max charge to 80% is fine, but I think it would be nice to add a paid option to start at 100%. Most folks won't need it, but for those who are road-tripping (me), it makes a difference. Happy to pay a little extra in that case.

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

#542

Post by klodolph »

hedora wrote: post #536
klodolph wrote: post #533

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need to solve that pesky little storage problem and it will all be coming up roses…

H2O is a pretty robust storage solution for H2. The bigger issue is scaling down cracking stations so you can use stranded electricity from solar and wind to generate the H2.

That doesn’t make any sense at all. The point of storing H2 is to use it as a way to store energy. If you store it as H2O, you’re not storing energy any more, it’s just water.

It’s like saying, “It’s easy to ship fragile glass sculptures. You just smash them into little bits and put the bits in an envelope, I don’t see why people use all that styrofoam.”

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

#543

Post by SargeDebian »

otabdeveloper4 wrote: post #521
tuatoru wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ... trying to find chargers with the right plug, ones that aren't broken, ones that were available, downloading various apps, etc. Then when I did find a charger I sat in the parking lot waiting for it to juice up. These considerations are why I think we'll eventually move to battery swapping, when the market is mature enough to have standards for batteries. When there are as many battery swapping stations as there…

Swappable batteries are a huge fire hazard. They stopped doing that even for scooters. Too dangerous.

Who's they? There were thousands of shcooters with swappable batteries riding around Taiwan when I was there in November.

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

#544

Post by moconnor »

tuatoru wrote: post #505
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…

> ... trying to find chargers with the right plug, ones that aren't broken, ones that were available, downloading various apps, etc. Then when I did find a charger I sat in the parking lot waiting for it to juice up. These considerations are why I think we'll eventually move to battery swapping, when the market is mature enough to have standards for batteries. When there are as many battery swapping stations as there…

I used to think this, but my car adds about 300km range in 20-30 mins on one of the many plentiful 300kW chargers in my area. A whole chain of gas stations now has 6-8 high-speed chargers on the forecourt. I plug in, take a break in the heated seat and call a friend, unplug and drive away.

On long trips stopping for 20-30 mins every few hours is ~normal anyway. Stretch my legs, use a restroom, have a drink, get back on the road.

Newer cars charge even faster. I don't think battery swapping is going to be important in the end.

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

#545

Post by klodolph »

b112 wrote: post #537
klodolph wrote: post #533

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just need to solve that pesky little storage problem and it will all be coming up roses…

And here we go. If the storage problem is an issue, how are all these h2 cars getting refueled? And how is the h2 getting to them? And how is it stored before shipping? It's not a problem. At all.

“It’s a problem” is not the same as “it is impossible.”

Likewise, “It’s possible to ship and store H2” is not the same thing as “it’s not a problem to ship and store H2”.

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

#546

Post by tsimionescu »

b112 wrote: post #520
chrisbolt wrote: post #513

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The market is mature enough to have standards for charging, but is nowhere near being mature for battery swaps. The charging problem will be solved long before battery swaps get close to being a thing, especially with the recent convergence on NACS.

Which is why h2 is the answer. h2 that is shown to work, regardless of all the hyperbole and reckless claims battery fans make.

That is one of the least efficient solutions possible - making hydrogen gas from water is at best 50% efficiency, and then you get to burn that hydrogen in a thermal engine with 30% efficiency.

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

#547

Post by brnt »

chrisbolt wrote: post #513
tuatoru wrote: post #505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ... trying to find chargers with the right plug, ones that aren't broken, ones that were available, downloading various apps, etc. Then when I did find a charger I sat in the parking lot waiting for it to juice up. These considerations are why I think we'll eventually move to battery swapping, when the market is mature enough to have standards for batteries. When there are as many battery swapping stations as there…

The market is mature enough to have standards for charging, but is nowhere near being mature for battery swaps. The charging problem will be solved long before battery swaps get close to being a thing, especially with the recent convergence on NACS.

I'd call the charging market far from nature. Installing random apps, practically per charging point? Or requiring a second wallet for all the 'network' cards?

Wake me up when I need nothing more than the payment card I already carry.

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

#548

Post by SargeDebian »

dukeofdoom wrote: post #515
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 saw a funny picture of a guy that was driving with a gas power generator strapped to his Tesla (On Hitch Mount Cargo Carrier). Just curious how much he could extend his range. And if this would be a practical alternative.

Every hybrid and EV I've ever been in refused to move if they detect a cable is inserted.

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

#549

Post by toast0 »

hangonhn wrote: post #280
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…

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

Getting replacement parts from Tesla has been consistently reported as time consuming. Even if the repair is the same cost, there's more loss of use if you can't get parts in a timely fashion.

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

#550

Post by demondemidi »

NickM wrote: post #267
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…

where a car is salvaged, we must crystallize at once any difference between our carrying value and the market value of that car Hang on though, this part has nothing to do with repair costs. This just sounds like an accounting issue, right? If anything I would expect this to benefit Hertz since they could write off the higher loss in their taxes immediately, instead of waiting until future years to write the value of…

Gigapress mono frames don’t like damage. Even light damage. The whole car is totaled when a comparable ICE build process can be repaired for modest costs. More of a Tesla problem than an ev problem.
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