Real-time exposure of the challenges of EV use

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Pablo said:
This.

I mean they give you a car with a full tank of fuel.

Tells me more about Hertz than a Bolt.
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One time Hertz gave me a car with a 5/8 full tank and said to return it where the fuel gauge was about at the same spot.

But it was a corporate rental where the corporate travel agency had a negotiated fuel price with Hertz and recommended not filling the tank unless absolutely necessary. I got a daily per diem and everything (including public transportation, meals outside the company cafeteria or hotel breakfast, and gas) would come out of that. Normally the policy meant never having to get gas. I was going to sightsee a bit but didn’t go as far as originally planned. I also suspect that not filling up is not just because they’re short in time but because they might get some renters filling up before returning anyways, and where there’s no credit for getting them gas.
 
BMWTurboDzl said:
True but it took decades for that to happen no?



That's another problem as well, as well as having only 1 car available, If Hertz had no cars what would the OP have done?
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I’ve had a rental reservation where there were no cars. Or at least where freshly prepped returns (often wet after being washed but not dried) were being doled out as soon as they became available.
 
RhondaHonda said:
I own an EV and wouldn’t rent one because of the same reasons the OP experienced. I doubt the rental lots at the airports have the electrical service to add a bunch of EV charging at this point so you end up getting partially charged cars because the prior renter was in the same spot when they picked it up.
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They should have some, but it’s likely Level 2 (maybe some Level 3 sprinkled in for hurry jobs) for when the cars are parked overnight. I don’t think they can charge Tom Brady though.

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I’m thinking when GM is added to Tesla’s network it might get a bit easier, although it would require either new Suoerchargers with the magic connector or rental agencies including an adapter in the car.
 
y_p_w said:
I’m thinking when GM is added to Tesla’s network it might get a bit easier, although it would require either new Suoerchargers with the magic connector or rental agencies including an adapter in the car.
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The tesla network wouldn't have saved him although it'd be 100x easier to find one - the bolt's just a dog.

It wont charge any faster than 50KWH no matter what you plumb it to.
 
UncleDave said:
The tesla network wouldn't have saved him although it'd be 100x easier to find one - the bolt's just a dog.

It wont charge any faster than 50KWH no matter what you plumb it to.
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I'd buy a Bolt right now if it could charge at 100Kw instead of being stuck at 50.
 
UncleDave said:
Supposedly the new ultium bolt will be a workable car vs a city car.
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I don't have my hopes up for high volume production of that one anytime soon given how hard it's been for GM to make any of their Ultium vehicles in any real numbers and how most Ultium models are still nowhere to be found on dealer lots let alone the base model/entry-level priced ones.

I like the Bolt, I have spent time in one, but I could see how it would not be ideal for OP's situation and I feel for his frustration.
 
Unfortunately you accepted a vehicle with a low charge. Guessing full charge would have gotten you there and back and dump the rental on them no need for charging except at your hotel if available .
 
dogememe said:
I don't have my hopes up for high volume production of that one anytime soon given how hard it's been for GM to make any of their Ultium vehicles in any real numbers and how most Ultium models are still nowhere to be found on dealer lots let alone the base model/entry-level priced ones.

I like the Bolt, I have spent time in one, but I could see how it would not be ideal for OP's situation and I feel for his frustration.
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True, they are barely trickling out of GM.
 
Even simple logic tells you, before a sea or radical change to be successful, you have to have the new infrastructure fully in place. I live in a townhouse with absolutely no possibility of installing a home charger without a zoning change and what has been estimated as $10-20,000 in installation costs to replace my existing electrical service and box, in addition to the material and contractors costs. Insane! I just bought a new 23 Civic which has a 4-500 mile range, can be fueled in 5 minutes or less. I'm 76 and refuse to expend or waste what time I have left waiting at a charging station, extending what would be a 400 mile 7 hour trip into logistical nightmare, in addition I have to plan on recharging at my destination for the return trip, again, 5 minutes with the Civic, questionable with EV as the area I travel is very rural. As I said, I'm 76, refuse to waste my time watching a charging indicator Creep up a scale. On my last trip, on 87 North there was a 3 hour wait for a charging station with a half hour limit for charging. I don't need that kind of stress in my life. I'll stick with ICE as long as I can.
 
BMWTurboDzl said:
Back in the day this would be akin to giving you an ICE with 1/4 tank and all the gas stations along your route would be closed. Remember those days? I sure do.

The issue isn't the EV in itself, but giving you an EV which hasn't been fully charged.
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But that's just it. All the gas stations wouldn't be closed. So it's a moot point..... Unless you can transcend time, back to the Arab oil embargo.
 
I think a lot of the EV rentals out there are mainly to test the market in various fleets. Seems like the way Tesla expand with massive coverage instead of relying on standardized chargers (obsoleted by the time they are standard, nobody pays to make improvement asap) is the right move for a rapidly expanding market. I really don't think relying on the establishment (airport, Walmart, hotels, restaurants, etc) to keep the chargers functional is going to be any better than relying on Tesla (need the chargers' and insurances' reputation to sell cars).

The worst thing I see in this post is the rental agency has no cars other than this one Bolt everyone rejects.
 
Speedy3861 said:
Even simple logic tells you, before a sea or radical change to be successful, you have to have the new infrastructure fully in place. I live in a townhouse with absolutely no possibility of installing a home charger without a zoning change and what has been estimated as $10-20,000 in installation costs to replace my existing electrical service and box, in addition to the material and contractors costs. Insane! I just bought a new 23 Civic which has a 4-500 mile range, can be fueled in 5 minutes or less. I'm 76 and refuse to expend or waste what time I have left waiting at a charging station, extending what would be a 400 mile 7 hour trip into logistical nightmare, in addition I have to plan on recharging at my destination for the return trip, again, 5 minutes with the Civic, questionable with EV as the area I travel is very rural. As I said, I'm 76, refuse to waste my time watching a charging indicator Creep up a scale. On my last trip, on 87 North there was a 3 hour wait for a charging station with a half hour limit for charging. I don't need that kind of stress in my life. I'll stick with ICE as long as I can.
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+1 No thanks. I'm with you, I'll be sticking with ICE as long as I can.
 
Speedy3861 said:
Even simple logic tells you, before a sea or radical change to be successful, you have to have the new infrastructure fully in place. I live in a townhouse with absolutely no possibility of installing a home charger without a zoning change and what has been estimated as $10-20,000 in installation costs to replace my existing electrical service and box, in addition to the material and contractors costs. Insane! I just bought a new 23 Civic which has a 4-500 mile range, can be fueled in 5 minutes or less. I'm 76 and refuse to expend or waste what time I have left waiting at a charging station, extending what would be a 400 mile 7 hour trip into logistical nightmare, in addition I have to plan on recharging at my destination for the return trip, again, 5 minutes with the Civic, questionable with EV as the area I travel is very rural. As I said, I'm 76, refuse to waste my time watching a charging indicator Creep up a scale. On my last trip, on 87 North there was a 3 hour wait for a charging station with a half hour limit for charging. I don't need that kind of stress in my life. I'll stick with ICE as long as I can.
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Townhouses and condos around here are starting to install charging stations. Of course you can usually do it yourself if you have a garage or car port. Sometimes there are HOA restrictions, but owners are fighting that.

Simple logic also tells you sometimes the cart has to come before the horse to get the horse...
 
billt460 said:
But that's just it. All the gas stations wouldn't be closed. So it's a moot point..... Unless you can transcend time, back to the Arab oil embargo.
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It really depends on the area. Around here we do have some gas station closed but we also will never have all EV chargers full or closed.
 
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