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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

#751

Post by yyyfb »

euroderf wrote: post #722
twobitshifter wrote: post #700

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I couldn’t agree more. Tesla has a major problem of not following the standard interaction design of cars. If you have to Google how to do something on your rental car, the designers have failed. Even opening the back door while inside is unorthodox. There’s not a handle to pull, instead it’s a push button that looks like it’s for the window?

Sounds like Hertz should be handing out a cheat sheet.

Or they could just buy other EVs that don't have this problem. Teslas are overrated and Hertz just fell for it.

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

#752

Post by kjkjadksj »

HDThoreaun wrote: post #748
Xenoamorphous wrote: post #646

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Charge at home over night If you have a private garage. I live in a (non-US) city where there's shared garages (those who do have a garage, a lot of them just park outside) which are old and not always have power sockets. And even if they do, I don't think you're entitled to use them to charge your car. And do EVs work with standard power sockets, or needs some special stuff? I've never driven an EV.

Vast majority of Americans have a garage. You can charge on a normal outlet but it's easy enough to bring an electrician in to upgrade to 240v.

4 in 10 americans can’t come up with $400 without taking on debt. They aren’t bringing in electricians unless they are rich.

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

#753

Post by eitally »

pxx wrote: post #338
lend000 wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strongly recommend Turo. I tried it recently after a similarly terrible experience with Hertz. Never going to turn back to traditional car rental companies -- it's so much easier, saves you significant time, and is (sometimes) cheaper.

I have never seen Turo be anywhere close to competitive. Are you comparing to rack rates or something? I'll take unlimited mileage and the lack of weird car rules any day, also. I don't understand the other convenience factors either -- car rental places tend to be located on-site at the airport or the train station? It's also a lemon market for customers. Turo gets all of the people who aren't qualified to rent at t…

That hasn't been my experience with Turo at all. I've rented via Turo several times in San Diego this past year, having started at the suggestion of a friend. Why? Because Turo can usually use short term parking, and that is always faster and more convenient than going through the rental center. Consider these scenarios:

Traditional airport car rental: Exit baggage claim and catch shuttle to rental car center. Stand in line (almost always), deal with hassles (upselling agents, car not ready, car given to someone else, different car available, etc. Find car in lot, then wait in security/checkout line to leave garage/lot. All that takes 30-60 minutes.

Turo: AirBNB-style app-based car rental with in-app comms with the vehicle owner or rental service (more and more, Turo rentals are via car rental services rather than individual owners). Show up at airport having pre-arranged where the car will be. Exit baggage claim and either pick up the car at the curb or (more typically) in short term parking. The retrieval process is so simple: car will be unlocked with keys in it, and you just get in and drive away. The only thing you have to do is message the owner through Turo that you have picked it up. The return process is just as easy: drop it in short term parking or arrange for the owner to meet you curbside at Departures. It's 100% frictionless relative to the traditional method.

I've found prices to be roughly on par with traditional rental car companies' rack rates. There are some exceptions, and I've also found that Turo is using VC funding to partially subsidize rentals right now, so it can be a bit cheaper in some circumstances. There's also a much wider range of vehicle options, and if you need something specific (pickup truck, full size SUV, minivan, convertible, exotic) Turo can't be beaten.

I know I sound like a shill, but I suggest you try it sometime. The time savings alone -- especially if you're traveling with kids -- makes Turo worth its weight in gold.

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

#754

Post by kjkjadksj »

yyyfb wrote: post #723
thehappypm wrote: post #709

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For low mileage trips, why not Uber or take public transit?

Public transit is not an option in these places (midsize US cities: no subway, very sparse bus service). Vs Uber: I personally prefer driving myself. No wait, and freedom (shoot, it's 10pm and I realize I forgot to pack toothpaste, I might not want to pay Uber $20 for a stupid round trip to CVS to buy a $2 tube of toothpaste). Also I tend to get carsick if the driver's not smooth.

Also most cities that are small and aren’t college towns have pretty terrible uber experiences. Not enough drivers and the ones that are there will probably reject your ride if they think they won’t get another fare easily wherever you get dropped off.

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

#755

Post by m463 »

xwolfi wrote: post #502
citiguy wrote: post #475

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rented a Model 3 from Hertz last year and drove about 120 miles in it. Due to the super cold weather (like 12 degrees), plus the fact that I drove in the mountains in New England, and I used the heat (it was freezing and I had my child with me), I had the charge the car 1/2 way there, which made me stop in the middle of nowhere for 30 minutes while I waited at a super charger. Honestly this experience stunk. I thin…

In France we had this big plan to swap batteries near instantly at the charging station, like we did with horses 300 years ago (but it's an old idea since electrical batteries were used to power vehicles everywhere), and tested it in Israel of all places with Renault... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place_(company) . Didn't work but maybe that's one idea ? Now if only we could standardize this...

Tesla figured out how to do it and implemented it.

Problem is, nobody wanted it. They would rather wait to charge than turn in their personal battery, and later come back for it.

Would you want it? Would you turn over your decent, brand new battery at some charging station?

What's interesting is that they did it differently with the cybertruck. You can buy an additional battery that I believe is swappable.

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

#756

Post by kjkjadksj »

yyyfb wrote: post #685

I rented a Tesla on a recent trip lasting a few days, and I feel there are other reasons for which is a bad rental car than charging. I've rented a lot of cars, but when I got this one I spent ten minutes completely dumbfounded trying to get it going. They gave me a key card but I couldn't figure out what to do with it. Swipe it, I guess, but where? I tried the door, but the pillar? Would've never guessed until looki…

Its not just tesla. I had a similar experience driving a prius. Is it off? Not sure, theres a low hum and the headlights are still on. I had to wait a minute to see it actually shut off before I trusted that I actually shut the stupid thing off and could walk away. Never getting a keyless car for myself. Zero point, nothing gained, other than to add another vector for carjacking from spoofing these radio frequencies.

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

#757

Post by maxerickson »

m463 wrote: post #755
xwolfi wrote: post #502

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In France we had this big plan to swap batteries near instantly at the charging station, like we did with horses 300 years ago (but it's an old idea since electrical batteries were used to power vehicles everywhere), and tested it in Israel of all places with Renault... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Place_(company) . Didn't work but maybe that's one idea ? Now if only we could standardize this...

Tesla figured out how to do it and implemented it. Problem is, nobody wanted it. They would rather wait to charge than turn in their personal battery, and later come back for it. Would you want it? Would you turn over your decent, brand new battery at some charging station? What's interesting is that they did it differently with the cybertruck. You can buy an additional battery that I believe is swappable.

They didn't really try to bring it to market. If the battery was just leased while it was installed in your vehicle (so you were only paying some reservation charge and a use fee instead of the full up front price), you might not feel so attached to it.

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

#758

Post by m463 »

bagels wrote: post #575
m463 wrote: post #467

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My experience renting a model 3 from hertz was both positive and negative. At first, it was hard since I've never owned a model 3. Even if you are a model 3 owner, you are probably used to using your phone as the key. They give you a keycard. anyway, I didn't know how to lock the doors. finally I figured out the lock symbol on the central display and locked the doors. But when I got out, they were unlocked again. The…

There's a little pictograph on the keycard that shows how to lock & unlock the car from the outside, by pressing the card on the b-pillar.

lol, the keycard was given to me inside a oversized hard plastic holder thing. It was scratched and you couldn't read the card inside if you wanted to.

yeah, once you know it is easy.

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

#759

Post by kjkjadksj »

fkkffdddd wrote: post #703
0xcafecafe wrote: post #701

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That screen is seriously distracting and the worst thing is you have to look at it even to check your speed. There is absolutely 0 information displayed behind the steering wheel. I always wonder how did this get approved.

With all the sensors onboard, can they actually go above speed limit? [edit: never mind. they can, probably]

Theres videos online of these teslas catching like 5 seconds of air off hills in Silverlake and destroying parked cars after landing. They must not even have an accelerometer.

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

#760

Post by rdtsc »

light_hue_1 wrote: post #617
rdtsc wrote: post #568

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably less amazing if it's a shady place in the middle of nowhere, with a dirty bathrooms, and shady characters roaming around asking for money. I don't see having to hanging out in some of those places for 30 minutes a positive experience. It's got it's excitement, but usually not the good kind of excitement.

I've been to countless superchargers in a good chuck of the country. I've never seen a shady one with anyone begging, dirty bathrooms, or anything similar. They're in reasonable places, mid to upscale, next to grocery stores, etc.

That's good that it's the case. I mainly pointing out that if it's ever not the case, and the place is not one would enjoy hanging out around, with an IC car it's a 5 minute deal and you're out of there. With an EV it's a half an hour, and possibly going out of your way, which adds extra time.

For instance, when I travel with my regular IC car, I don't plan or think too much about where to refuel, how I am going to drive there, etc. It's usually a last minute decision. Having to spend half an hour somewhere it's a bit more tricky, now the trip revolves around recharging, waiting, possibly combining with lunch or dinner, etc.

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