Your Ultimate Guide to Renting an Electric Vehicle

Big 7 Travel Team | 1 month ago

What to expect from your EV Car Rental

Considering an electric vehicle for your next road trip? Not only are EVs reliable, safe, and easy to drive, but they’re also eco-friendly. Lithium-ion batteries are long-lasting energy sources that are the drivers behind electric cars, producing zero emissions and encouraging sustainable travel.

While it can seem daunting at first, renting and driving an electric car is easier than you might think. Check out our guide for a hassle-free renting experience.

Benefits of Renting an Electric Vehicle

Renting an EV is an exciting step towards travelling sustainably. Some of the benefits of renting an EV include:

Cars that run solely on electricity produce zero emissions.
It provides peace of mind while driving through low-emission zones.
You’ll spend less on keeping the car running – charging the car electronically is up to 80% cheaper than buying petrol.
Many cities have free parking for electric vehicles and dedicated EV parking bays.
Electric vehicles are quieter for a more relaxing drive.
Electric vehicles usually have impressive in-car technology, such as seat warmers, intelligent temperature control, touch-screen music controls, in-car telephones, and more.

Get to Know Your Electric Vehicle

If it’s your first time renting an EV, or even if it’s not, getting to know your vehicle is crucial.

Understand the EV’s battery range before setting off. Ask the car hire attendant questions about how long the car can run at certain speeds. Once you’ve been on the road for a day or two, you’ll have a clear understanding of how long you’re comfortable driving the car after charging it.
Bear in mind that electric vehicles can accelerate quickly. Be gentle with the accelerator for a smooth and safe journey. While you might be used to putting the pedal to the metal to gain speed, this isn’t needed with an EV.
Ask the car hire attendant for battery warning signs. You won’t see a usual petrol dial like on a regular car – the low battery signal is similar to what you’d see on a smartphone.
Practice locking and unlocking the EV. It will probably be different to what you’re used to, either with a key fob or card.

How to Charge an Electric Vehicle

One of the main concerns with hiring an electric vehicle is how to charge it and how to find EV charging stations.

Use Zapmap

Electric vehicle pioneers Zapmap making charging your EV easy. You can use the site or download the app to find charging stations in the UK, Europe, and some destinations across the USA. The in-app journey planner will help you pre-plan your charging stops for peace of mind.

Types of chargers

There are various types of EV chargers. L1 chargers generally take around 11-20 hours from empty to full, L2 chargers generally take around 4-8 hours, and fast chargers can fully re-energise the car in 15-30 minutes.

How it charges

Each vehicle is different, so be sure to ask the car hire attendant for step-by-step charging instructions. Usually, you can charge the car by plugging the electrical cord at the charging station into the port. You can keep track of the charging process on the dashboard inside the car.

How to pay

You’ll likely need to download the car company app to pay for charging the EV.

What Happens if You Run Out of Battery Between Charging Points

Running out of battery can be a nerve-wracking prospect for EV renters. But don’t let it deter you. We recommend planning your journey and factoring in charging points in advance. There are thousands of EV charging points in the UK and Europe, and the USA is leading the way with 900,000+ charging points in California alone. So, if you plan accordingly, running out of battery shouldn’t be a problem.

If you are caught out, pull over where it’s safe to do so, and call roadside assistance. When you pick up your EV, be sure to ask for the emergency contact number/road assistance number from the car hire supplier. In the unlikely event of this happening, inform roadside assistance that the car in question is an EV to avoid confusion and delays. Depending on the situation, the recovery service might be able to charge up the EV long enough to drive to the closest charging point. Alternatively, they may tow the vehicle to the closest charging point.

Tips for Driving an Electric Vehicle

Check the weather

The performance of electric vehicles can be impacted by weather extremes, with battery life decreasing more rapidly in very cold or hot climates.

Take the plug out once the vehicle is fully charged

When you’re charging the EV, keep an eye on the battery. When it is fully charged, be sure to take the plug out to avoid wasting energy and money.

Use regenerative braking

Most EVs have regenerative braking, which allows you to slow down without pumping the brakes. It’s especially useful if you are driving down a hill. Regenerative braking helps to recover energy that might be lost when you accelerate, helping to extend the battery range. It’s also useful when the vehicle weighs more than normal, whether from luggage or adding passengers.

Turn off in-car accessories

If you want to maximise your battery range, we recommend turning off accessories when they are not in use. Electric vehicles are kitted out with some great in-car features, such as temperature control and heated seats. However, these could be draining the car battery quicker than usual.

Turn on cruise control

Cruise control is a great tool for energy efficiency on flat roads. However, speed is one of the biggest battery drainers, so we recommend reducing the speed slightly to maximise your battery life. For example, if you drop the cruise control speed from 70 mph to 68 mph, you will save an average of 8.4% in energy.