I rented a Tesla from Hertz. The automobile was enjoyable, however the rental course of is not prepared for EVs.

The bodily bank card wanted for my reserving was on the opposite aspect of city. My fault for not studying the advantageous print and assuming I didn't want the cardboard if I had paid forward of time, and in addition not a dealbreaker.

After I got here again 40 minutes later with the bank card, it solely took a couple of minutes to finish the transaction and have the Mannequin 3 pulled round.

I used to be ready to get a walk-around of the automobile or possibly some form of fast run-down on learn how to use an EV or learn how to cost it. As an alternative, the Hertz rep handed me the Tesla key card and sat again down at his desk.

I sat there for a second earlier than turning round to see my Mannequin 3 parked out entrance.

"Oh, there it’s!," I mentioned. And I walked out to the automobile on my own.

As a result of I'd pushed a Tesla earlier than, I already knew learn how to faucet the cardboard to unlock the automobile and get in. I'm undecided a first-time Tesla driver would know that off the bat.

For what it's price, Hertz did e-mail me some tutorial movies about my Mannequin 3 a number of days earlier than I picked up my rental. I discovered it buried in my inbox after I had the automobile, and these movies did assist me shortly troubleshoot points like adjusting my side-view mirrors.

My reservation quoted me about $56 per day — about what I anticipated for a fancier automobile through the vacation season. In whole, my 5 days got here out to $261.30 as soon as taxes and costs had been added in.

After I obtained within the automobile, directions on the touchscreen instructed me to press the brake and faucet the important thing card on the middle console. As soon as my Mannequin 3 was able to drive, I instantly checked the vary and my coronary heart sank: Hertz had given the automobile to me with solely 53% battery.

I knew within the Michigan chilly that wasn't going to final me very lengthy. I wanted to search out someplace to juice up earlier than I may begin placing the Tesla by means of its paces.

"Oh, nicely," I believed, "A small setback."

The second I pulled onto the street, vehicles kicking up salty water shortly dirtied up the large windshield of the Mannequin 3. I went to hit the wiper fluid and instantly obtained an error message on the touchscreen: "Wiper Fluid Low."

Nothing got here out of the sprayers. The wiper fluid wasn't simply low, it was empty.

"Okay," I believed, getting just a little extra aggravated. "Add that to the listing with charging."

Between the delay getting my automobile and the dearth of cost, I made a decision to scrap my errands for the day and head dwelling. I had dinner plans that night time and wanted to get dwelling and alter.

I made two visits to Tesla Superchargers that night time with a view to preserve sufficient vary within the battery to get me the place I wanted to go — by no means with sufficient time to rise up to a full cost. It was inconvenient, however not prohibitive to my plans.

Nonetheless, I puzzled what if I had been a extra typical rental buyer and this was the primary day of a visit the place I had loads of floor to cowl? This might derail journey plans in a method half a tank of gasoline actually doesn't.

On the primary cease, I charged for quarter-hour — so long as I may wait with out being impolite to my dinner host — to go from 35% to 40%. I left my home with 39%, so this journey was form of pointless in the long run.

On my method dwelling from dinner, the second cease was an hour lengthy and solely obtained me up close to 60% battery. I obtained dwelling after midnight.

About 24 hours after buying the Mannequin 3, due to a fast cease at CVS, the automobile was lastly snug to drive and the battery was at 100% cost.

I may have requested for reimbursement for the wiper fluid once I dropped off the automobile, however I made a decision the $20 wasn't price a back-and-forth with customer support.

Ultimately, it's nonetheless a rental automobile.

Hertz had despatched me a video with directions on learn how to use my Mannequin 3 that helped me get by means of some little studying curves, and the free charging at Supercharger stations (as long as you come back the automobile with the identical stage of cost you bought it with) definitely saved me cash.

I needed to cost 4 occasions within the 5 days I had the automobile.

Dropping off the automobile on the finish of my rental was additionally fast and seamless. I simply parked, dropped the keys on the desk, and was on my method.

General, getting began on renting a Mannequin 3 from Hertz was bumpy and there are undoubtedly easy enhancements that might make the transition into the automobile extra snug. Merely having 100% cost and a full wiper fluid reservoir at pickup would have made all of the distinction in these first 24 hours.

These little issues are particularly necessary as Hertz reckons with integrating extra EVs into its fleets. My typically rocky expertise renting an EV is proof that — from prospects to staff to Hertz itself — there’s nonetheless loads of studying to do with on the subject of electrical vehicles.

Even with these points, I'd undoubtedly lease a Tesla — or one other EV — from Hertz once more. Numerous the problems I encountered may be chalked as much as one-off points through the busy vacation season or the truth that I used to be renting from a smaller lot.

General, I believe what stunned me essentially the most is how common the expertise is as soon as the automobile is absolutely charged and also you get used to issues like one-pedal driving.

Even once you're renting a Tesla, it's nonetheless only a rental automobile. And Hertz continues to be simply Hertz.