Thinking about a road trip and need a car? Go green and join the fun - rent an electric car.
The future is green. The car industry is going green and so are the car rental companies. So if you're thinking about renting a car, you might want to consider renting an electric car.
But first things first, is an electric car really the right choice for you? What are the pros and cons of an electric car? Here are a few things you need to know before you rent an electric car.
An electric car is a plug-in electric car or a highway-ready car that runs on electricity. In 2004, Tesla Motors began developing a battery electric vehicle - the Tesla Roadster. The Roaster was the first electric car to use the battery and get more than 200 miles per charge. Nowadays, more and more brands are going green and releasing their electric vehicles. Just to name a few: Renault Zoe, Nissan Leaf, BMW i3, Tesla Model S, Volkswagen e-Up and e-Golf,...Yes, electric cars are the future and the future is now.
Advantages of electric car rental
The most obvious benefit of renting an electric car is that it's environmentally friendly. You don't need gasoline - just plug the charger into your electric rental car and charge it to 80% in less than 30 minutes. You and your rental car will go easy on nature. Pollution is a big issue today and even companies are starting to realize that. So - less pollution, a happy environment for all.
There is another type of pollution that we rarely talk about - noise pollution. Loud noises cause annoyance, and nuisance and both can lead to health problems. That's another thing you can partially take care of by renting an electric car. Electric cars are quiet. If you are driving at 15 miles per hour, you are not making any noise at all. At that speed, electric cars are silent as a fish. At higher speeds, the noise only comes from wheel resistance.
Don't like shifting gears? No, no problem. Your electric car is automatic. For less experienced drivers, this can be a big advantage. You just need to know how to park and switch between reverse and forward.
When you rent an electric car, there is less chance of something breaking down, electric cars are more reliable overall.
Disadvantages of renting an electric car
The first concern with renting an electric car is ironically related to their biggest advantage - charging. You can charge your rented electric car at a charging station in a public area. Public charging stations are often located at car parks and supermarkets and are free for the duration of your stay.
However, the average range of an electric car is around 100 miles. So if you're driving a long distance, you'll need a network of charging stations, which is being built all the time but is still partly under construction.
The second disadvantage to renting an electric car is that it can take longer to charge than a regular car. To fully charge the car at the electric car charging station, takes about 5 hours, not minutes.
Save the planet
Producing zero emissions with your rented electric car - if we don't count the megajoules needed to transport the electricity to the car - is a great start.
And more and more competitors in this game are getting in on the act. When you rent an electric car, you improve air quality and reduce climate change. But like we said - electric cars have some drawbacks too.
All in all - it's a refreshing option to join in & save the planet, but to be completely relaxed & stress-free on your trip, we advise you to check out the charging stations first. Go green & have a safe trip!
Advantages of hiring an electric car
- Avoid the congestion charge - many cities charge an additional fee to enter the city centre. London is the most famous example of this and the additional charge does not apply to fully electric vehicles, the same goes for hybrid vehicles.
- Charge for free - in some countries and cities you will find charging stations where you can charge the car for free
- Lower your carbon footprint - internal combustion engines that make petrol or diesel cars run are really bad for the environment. Using an electric motor usually lowers your carbon footprint
How can I rent an electric car?
It's as easy as hiring a petrol car. Search for your electric rental car with Orbit Car Hire, where you select your pick-up and drop-off destinations and dates, then use the filters to show only electric cars.
We're adding new electric car destinations every day, so more and more airports and other pickup locations will show up when you select electric cars. You can also learn more about rental car sizes to find what size of a rental car will suit your trip.
