Renting an Electric Car for Your Road Trip? What to Know During the EV Transition
The car rental industry says EVs are for short trips. Our data tells a different story: travelers rent electric cars for slightly longer journeys than gas vehicles. So why are so many EV rentals ending in frustration? We're in a transition period where infrastructure and driving culture haven't caught up yet.
The car rental industry is rapidly adopting electric vehicles. Our experience analyzing thousands of electric car rentals across dozens of countries and hundreds of suppliers reveals an interesting disconnect: the technology is here, but the infrastructure and driving culture are still catching up.
Travelers rent EVs for slightly longer trips on average than gas vehicles, often around 6 days. Close to 10% are one-way rentals. These aren't cautious city drivers; they're confident road trippers.
So if travelers trust EVs for multi-day journeys, why did Hertz scale back their electric operation in 2024 after customer complaints?
The answer isn't about the vehicles themselves. We're in a transition period. EV driving requires different planning habits that haven't become common sense yet. Charging infrastructure is still developing. And the cultural shift from gas to electric is still happening.
Here's what you need to know before renting an electric car during this transition period.
The Surprising Truth About Who Rents EVs
At Carla, we've analyzed thousands of electric car rentals across dozens of countries and hundreds of suppliers. What we discovered challenges conventional wisdom about how travelers use electric vehicles.
The Cultural Transition Gap
If travelers trust EVs enough to book them for multi-day journeys, why are so many ending up stranded, frustrated, or writing angry reviews about broken chargers and wasted hours?
The challenge isn't the vehicles or the customers.
We're in a transition period where EV driving culture hasn't developed yet.
For 100+ years, everyone has learned the same gas car habits: fill up when low, takes 5 minutes, gas stations everywhere. These habits are cultural common sense passed down through generations.
EV driving requires completely different habits that haven't become common knowledge yet. Most renters approach an electric car the same way they'd approach a gas car, and that's when problems begin.
Three Realities of the EV Transition Period
During this transition to electric vehicles, there are infrastructure and knowledge gaps that most people don't realize until they're on the road:
Reality #1: Real-World Range vs Advertised Specs
- Advertised range: 300 miles
- Highway reality: 180-220 miles (25-35% less)
- Winter driving: Cut another 30%
- Practical range between charges: 150-180 miles
What this means for multi-day rentals: A route that needs 2 gas stops will need 4-5 charging stops. Every destination calculator must account for this gap.
Reality #2: Charging Infrastructure Is Still Developing
The time investment for EV charging is fundamentally different from gas refueling:
- Gas fill-up: 3-5 minutes
- EV fast charge to 80%: 35-60 minutes
- EV to 100%: 60-90+ minutes
- On busy weekends: Add wait time (queues can double this)
Real impact on your trip: Over a typical week-long road trip, charging stops add up to 4-6 hours total. This isn't a flaw, it's the current state of charging technology. Fast charging infrastructure is improving rapidly, but we're not yet at gas station speed.
This aligns with booking patterns we see across all rental durations. As documented in our analysis of American car rental behavior, the majority of US travelers rent for short 1-3 day trips where time efficiency matters enormously. A 50-minute charging delay on a weekend getaway represents a significant portion of available vacation time.
Reality #3: Charging Network Reliability Is Improving, But Not There Yet
- 22% of charging stations offline due to maintenance or faults
- Rural areas: One charger every 50-75 miles
- Gas stations: Every 2-3 miles
- Multiple apps required: ChargePoint, Electrify America, Tesla (each needs setup, payment, account)
This isn't anyone's fault. Building a comprehensive charging network takes time. Gas stations took decades to reach current coverage. EV infrastructure is growing rapidly, but we're still in the early years of that buildout.
The Industry Learning Curve
In 2024, Hertz scaled back their electric fleet after customer feedback revealed challenges. Their explanation: "Many customers find EVs complicated when renting them in unfamiliar cities."
This highlights the cultural gap. The rental industry is learning how to support customers through this transition. The challenge isn't just having EVs in the fleet. It's helping customers understand a fundamentally different driving experience when they're away from home in an unfamiliar area.
EVs CAN Handle Road Trips-With Proper Preparation
Here's the thing: Our booking data shows EVs ARE being used for multi-day road trips. Customers book them for around a week. Some do one-way journeys. It's possible.
The difference between success and disaster? Knowing what you're getting into.
✅ EVs Work Great When:
1. You Plan Charging Into Your Itinerary
Accept you'll add 1-2 hours per day for charging. Build it into meal
breaks and hotel stops. Don't try to "power through" like a gas car.
2. You Know Your Real Range
Take advertised range, cut by 30%. Plan to charge at 30% remaining (not
10%). Never count on going below 20%. That's your buffer for broken
chargers.
3. You Have Backup Plans
Download PlugShare, ChargePoint, Electrify America apps BEFORE pickup.
Map alternative chargers for every stop. Budget for Uber/taxi if
emergency happens.
4. Your Trip Fits the Profile
Major cities with good charging density. Routes along highways with
infrastructure. Hotels/Airbnbs with EV charging. Not time-critical
(flexibility for delays).
5. You're Comfortable with Technology
Different charging networks and apps. Range calculations and planning.
Troubleshooting if things go wrong.
Real Success Factors
Among our thousands of EV rentals, plenty result in successful multi-day trips. What makes them work?
- Researched charging locations BEFORE pickup
- Added 60 minutes per charge to their schedule
- Chose routes with charging redundancy
- Treated it as part of the adventure, not an obstacle
- Assumed it would "just work" like gas
- Tight schedules with no flexibility
- Rural routes with sparse infrastructure
- Didn't know to research charging ahead of time
The key difference: Preparation. Not vehicle capability.
This pattern of preparation contrasts sharply with typical rental behavior. Our analysis of Italian February travel shows 63% of travelers book last-minute, making spontaneous weekend decisions. That spontaneity works perfectly for gas vehicles but creates serious problems with EVs where advance charging research is essential.
Your EV Rental Preparation Checklist
Until EV driving culture becomes common sense, here's what you need to know before renting an electric car:
BEFORE YOU BOOK:
- ☐ Confirm hotel charging available - Search: "[hotel name] EV charging" and call ahead. Verify they're working
- ☐ Map your entire route with charging stops - Use PlugShare app. Identify 2-3 chargers per destination for redundancy. Add 60 min per charge to total trip time
- ☐ Download and set up charging apps NOW - ChargePoint, Electrify America, PlugShare, Tesla (if renting Tesla). Add payment methods, create accounts
- ☐ Calculate realistic range - Take advertised range. Reduce by 30% for highway. Reduce another 30% for winter. Example: 300-mile car = 150-mile winter highway range
AT PICKUP COUNTER:
- ☐ Demand a charging demonstration (Don't leave without it) - Where is charging port and how to open it. How to start/stop charging. Which charging networks this car accepts
- ☐ Ask about return policy - Required charge percentage? (Some allow 20%, not 100%). Nearest charger to return location? Fee if you don't charge enough?
- ☐ Get emergency contacts - Roadside assistance for EV-specific issues. What if charger is broken? Can you extend rental if stranded?
DURING YOUR TRIP:
- ☐ Never go below 20% charge (buffer for broken chargers)
- ☐ Plan meals around charging (make it productive time)
- ☐ Monitor range obsessively (more than you would with gas)
- ☐ Start looking for chargers at 40% (not 10%)
IF EMERGENCY (Range Critical):
- Turn off AC/heating immediately
- Reduce speed to 55-60 mph
- Activate "range mode" if available
- Call rental roadside assist NOW (not when you're at 0%)
Better Alternatives for Most Trips
Look, our experience shows EVs CAN work for road trips. But should you choose one?
For most travelers, especially first-time EV renters, there are better options:
Option 1: Gas Hybrid (Best of Both Worlds)
- Toyota Prius: 50+ MPG efficiency
- No charging needed
- 600+ mile range
- 5-minute fill-ups
- Often cheaper than pure EV
- You get environmental benefits WITHOUT infrastructure headaches
Option 2: Traditional Gas
- Universal refueling (every 2-3 miles)
- Predictable time management
- No app setup required
- Works anywhere, including rural areas
- Same or lower price than EV
Option 3: Split Strategy (For Longer Trips)
Fly to destination. Rent EV for city exploration days (Days 1-3). Swap to gas for road trip portion (Days 4-7). Return to EV for final city days (Days 8-10).
What we've observed: Smart travelers use this approach. EV where it works (urban, hotel charging), gas where it's practical (long distances, rural areas). Slight logistics hassle, but optimizes each segment.
This decision framework matters especially for international travel. As we documented in our UK half-term analysis, British families planning week-long trips to destinations like the Canary Islands need every hour of vacation time. Spending 4-6 hours charging over that week represents a meaningful reduction in actual vacation time with family.
The Bottom Line: We're in a Transition Period
Our experience across thousands of rentals tells a clear story:
Travelers confidently book EVs for multi-day road trips, often around a week. They're willing to try one-way journeys. They trust these vehicles for real travel.
The challenge is that we're between two worlds.
Electric vehicle technology is ready. What's still developing: charging infrastructure coverage, network reliability, and most importantly, common cultural knowledge about how to drive EVs. For a century, everyone learned gas car habits from parents, friends, and experience. EV driving habits haven't had time to spread that way yet.
The rental industry is working on this transition. Infrastructure companies are expanding networks. And gradually, EV driving knowledge is becoming more common. But right now, in 2026, we're still in that transition period.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself Before Renting an EV:
1. Are you willing to add 2-4 hours to your total trip for charging
stops?
YES → EV possible
NO → Choose gas
2. Do you have schedule flexibility if something goes wrong (broken
charger, longer wait)?
YES → EV manageable
NO → Choose gas for reliability
3. Is this your first time with an EV, and are you in an unfamiliar
area?
YES → Seriously consider gas
NO → EV could work
Understanding these patterns matters for any type of travel. Whether you're booking spontaneously like the 63% of Italian travelers who book last-minute, or planning months ahead like UK families during school holidays, the EV decision requires honest self-assessment of your priorities, schedule flexibility, and comfort level with developing infrastructure.
The rental industry's shift toward electric vehicles is accelerating. According to industry reports, 25-40% of rental fleets will be electric by 2026. As destination pricing continues to vary dramatically (from affordable options we documented in our island pricing analysis to premium rates during peak seasons covered in our seasonal pricing research), understanding the EV transition adds another dimension to making informed rental choices.
Compare options carefully. Understand your actual needs and comfort level. And remember: the best rental is the one that matches your specific trip, travel style, and readiness for the EV experience.
At Carla, we help you compare rental options across dozens of countries and hundreds of suppliers offering electric vehicles-whether you choose EV or gas, we'll find you the best deal for your specific trip.
About This Analysis
This analysis draws from our experience with thousands of electric car rentals across dozens of countries and hundreds of suppliers on the Carla platform. Data reflects actual customer booking patterns, trip durations, and destination choices for electric versus gas vehicles.
Industry data on charging infrastructure reliability comes from published reports on EV charging network performance. Hertz's 2024 electric vehicle de-fleeting is documented in multiple industry publications and company statements. Range calculations reflect real-world testing data accounting for highway speeds, climate conditions, and battery management requirements.
Vehicle rental duration comparisons use actual booking data showing electric vehicles rented slightly longer than gas vehicles on average. One-way rental percentages reflect completed bookings. Coverage statistics reference the number of countries and suppliers offering electric vehicle options through our platform.
Our previous analyses of American car rental behavior, Italian travel patterns, UK half-term dynamics, and European winter escapes provide additional context on how travelers make vehicle and destination choices across different markets and seasons.
