The rental company Hertz previously acquired 100 000 Tesla vehicles for its fleet. The company faced significant operational challenges because it failed to provide customers with adequate information regarding EV charging requirements.
Electric vehicles differ from internal combustion engine cars in energy efficiency. While conventional vehicles convert less than 20 percent of gasoline energy into motion, EVs require different management of range, which is affected by speed, terrain, temperature, and climate control usage.
Charging an EV involves technical nuances such as charging curves and battery preconditioning. Charging speeds often taper significantly once the battery reaches 40 percent capacity, and cold weather can impact performance if the battery is not properly preconditioned.
Resources like EVKX and Recurrent provide data on charging curves for various models. Manufacturers and dealers often fail to educate owners on these specifics, such as the ability to charge via standard wall outlets or the necessity of using specific charging apps.
