My first EV Experience
Discussion
h0b0 said:
I have a thread running in the travel section of pistonheads talking about rental car equivalents. I thought my latest experience is relevant here.
Rented a BMW X5 and got confirmation of a guaranteed Tesla model Y. That triggered the thread because I didn’t think they are equivalent and I had to drive 250 miles to my destination which is 1 hour drive away from the nearest super charger.
When I got on the shuttle to the Hertz counter I over heard an elderly couple talking. The husband was near tears. He just kept saying how he didn’t know how he could have booked an electric vehicle. The wife was reassuring him saying they would manage. I politely apologized for overhearing their conversation and let them know it was unlikely his mistake. He had probably been bait and switched like I had. That’s when everyone on the shuttle revealed they had all booked petrol cars and received confirmation of EV.
Once we got to the Hertz building it was chaos. 30 groups all complaining that they had been bait and switched. Lots of angry people.
When it was my turn the guy at the desk immediately went into defensive mode. I’m sure he was getting complaints all day long and was just ready for the next customer to complain. I just told him I wanted the car I booked or equivalent. The group was something like prestige elite SUV. Eventually, I said I would deal with the Tesla. That’s when he told me they only had model 3s. “Nope”. Was my response. I will take the XC90 I can see. That’s £85/day extra. The manager gave me an XC60 hybrid in the end.
So, that means my first EV was a total failure as the worst use case for EV is rental. Everyone in the building also had a terrible experience. As I left I saw they had Taycans. If they didn’t have the car in category they should give the Taycan. I would have taken that and dealt with the inconvenience as I’m looking at buying one.
Oh, hertz reported $400M loss in the last quarter due to EVs. They are now forcing them on to people using underhand practices.
Have hire car companies ever made a profit ?Rented a BMW X5 and got confirmation of a guaranteed Tesla model Y. That triggered the thread because I didn’t think they are equivalent and I had to drive 250 miles to my destination which is 1 hour drive away from the nearest super charger.
When I got on the shuttle to the Hertz counter I over heard an elderly couple talking. The husband was near tears. He just kept saying how he didn’t know how he could have booked an electric vehicle. The wife was reassuring him saying they would manage. I politely apologized for overhearing their conversation and let them know it was unlikely his mistake. He had probably been bait and switched like I had. That’s when everyone on the shuttle revealed they had all booked petrol cars and received confirmation of EV.
Once we got to the Hertz building it was chaos. 30 groups all complaining that they had been bait and switched. Lots of angry people.
When it was my turn the guy at the desk immediately went into defensive mode. I’m sure he was getting complaints all day long and was just ready for the next customer to complain. I just told him I wanted the car I booked or equivalent. The group was something like prestige elite SUV. Eventually, I said I would deal with the Tesla. That’s when he told me they only had model 3s. “Nope”. Was my response. I will take the XC90 I can see. That’s £85/day extra. The manager gave me an XC60 hybrid in the end.
So, that means my first EV was a total failure as the worst use case for EV is rental. Everyone in the building also had a terrible experience. As I left I saw they had Taycans. If they didn’t have the car in category they should give the Taycan. I would have taken that and dealt with the inconvenience as I’m looking at buying one.
Oh, hertz reported $400M loss in the last quarter due to EVs. They are now forcing them on to people using underhand practices.
Rented an Octavia or similar from hertz for collection tomorrow’s afternoon. Did this because I have a phobia of Vauxhall Mokkas and my last rental was a polestar which whilst a nice EV did not suit the journey and having to spend 30mins charging a few miles from home to get it up to 80% was not ideal…
Just received an introduction to EVs email, expecting to get another one. What options do I have to refuse the EV?
Just received an introduction to EVs email, expecting to get another one. What options do I have to refuse the EV?
Everyone else will be trying to get out of the EV that has been forced on them. The crazy thing is the EVs are cheap and we could select them if we wanted one. Instead they bait and switch.
In my case I had to escalate to a manager because the desk staff are not allowed to change from EV to petrol without charging. My original escalation was because I booked a BMW X5 and they changed it to a model Y. They don’t have any model Ys so they offered me a model 3. Hertz have not had BMWs for a very long time, or maybe ever.
If you get the EV you have to pre-pay £50+ for them to charge it or charge it yourself to 80%. This again wasn’t what they had previously told me as it was $35 on the confirmation. Coming across as an EV hater and I’m not. I’m going to buy one. But,
Think that’s crazy? They charge £4.48/l petrol if you don’t return it full. They have held £400 on my credit card to cover this cost. To be fair to the staff they did say several times “please return it full. Please!”
In my case I had to escalate to a manager because the desk staff are not allowed to change from EV to petrol without charging. My original escalation was because I booked a BMW X5 and they changed it to a model Y. They don’t have any model Ys so they offered me a model 3. Hertz have not had BMWs for a very long time, or maybe ever.
If you get the EV you have to pre-pay £50+ for them to charge it or charge it yourself to 80%. This again wasn’t what they had previously told me as it was $35 on the confirmation. Coming across as an EV hater and I’m not. I’m going to buy one. But,
Think that’s crazy? They charge £4.48/l petrol if you don’t return it full. They have held £400 on my credit card to cover this cost. To be fair to the staff they did say several times “please return it full. Please!”
As expected they only had polestars and even took me to the yard to show nothing else (except a Vauxhall Mokka but I would rather walk…).
Driven a couple of these now and providing you plan for it, it is not too bad, especially using the fast chargers which take it from <20% to 80% in 20 mins whilst you pee, eat etc.
Seemed to do between 180 and 200 mile on a charge which is bearable and radar cruise and lift off braking makes for a relaxing cruise.
Driven a couple of these now and providing you plan for it, it is not too bad, especially using the fast chargers which take it from <20% to 80% in 20 mins whilst you pee, eat etc.
Seemed to do between 180 and 200 mile on a charge which is bearable and radar cruise and lift off braking makes for a relaxing cruise.
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