The rental industry is evolving. In recent years, there has been an increase in both hybrid and electric car rentals globally. Thanks to these two options, you can travel more sustainably, leaving little to no carbon footprint.
Rental car companies offer eco-conscious travelers an opportunity to travel sustainably through hybrid and electric cars. Most car rental companies are increasingly adding hybrid and electric cars to their fleet. More cities are increasing their commitment to reducing greenhouse gases and sustainability through promoting electric and hybrid car rental culture. In addition, more hotels are increasingly installing electric charging stations.
Recent technological advancements and state-of-the-art equipment have made it easier to produce electric and hybrid cars. Companies like Green Motion have revolutionized how you can travel. They offer an intuitive mobile phone platform where you can sign in, book an electric or hybrid rental cab, and have an eco-friendly journey.
Many car rental and car-sharing platforms offer hybrid and electric cars that you can rent conveniently.
What is a Hybrid Car Rental?
Hybrid car rental companies have fleets of hybrid vehicles that provide outstanding fuel economy and lesser carbon emissions. Hybrid cars are more fuel-efficient than conventional cars. While the average car does around 10km/l, and most hybrid cars achieve over 30km/l.
This low fuel consumption helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, helping us to reduce our adverse effects on the environment. With fewer gas emissions, hybrid rentals are considered rightfully eco-friendly.
What is an Electric Car Rental?
Electric car rental is a quickly growing enterprise. Car hire companies are widely adopting this trend, while newer firms are also exploiting this opportunity. An electric car rental is basically a car hire firm that has purely electric cars in its fleet.
If you choose an electric car rental your car will run purely on an electric charge, and not use any fuel! With an electric car, all you need to do is charge its battery and you are off! With the increasing number of charging stations, you don’t have to worry about charging your EV.
Electric cars give a whole new sensation. Besides being highly eco-friendly, you don’t feel the mechanical action that you feel in conventional cars. The electric motors make these cars feel smooth and more comfortable. Also, due to the battery placement, they have a low center of gravity hence safer mobility, and more packing room for your suitcases!.
Where Can I Find Electric Car Rental?
You can find electric car rentals almost everywhere. Green Motion, which offers electric cars in its fleet, is available in almost all major cities globally. Whether in London, Zanzibar, Munich, or even Mexico City, you can find a Green Motion electric car rental through their mobile app.
Where Can I Find Hybrid Car Rental?
Hybrid car rentals are almost everywhere. Top companies such as Green Motion, SIXT, and Hertz have extended their reach to help travelers find the best hybrid cars. All you need is to visit either of these companies and reserve a hybrid rental for your next travel.
How Much Does It Cost to Rent an Electric Vehicle?
The price of renting an electric car depends on several factors, such as type of car, duration, location, and season. Generally, electric cars are relatively cheaper compared to hybrid and gasoline cars. Some locations exempt electric cars from taxation due to their eco-friendliness.
Is It Cheaper to Drive A Hybrid Car?
Yes. It’s cheaper to drive a hybrid car compared to an ordinary gas-powered car. Hybrid cars have a high mileage per gallon, meaning you don’t have to dig deep in your pockets.
Best Electric Car Rental Services
Electric car rental companies are on the rise. Intending to provide an eco-friendly means of transport, these companies provide EVs that require no fuel, just charging. Our favorite electric car rental companies include:
Green Motion
Green Motion is a leading electric car rental globally. It is available in 450+ locations across 47 countries and is still growing to reach as many people as possible. Green Motion uses fully electric vehicle models such as the Tesla, Nissan Leaf, & Volkswagen ID3.
These vehicles leave behind a very meagre carbon footprint. With charging points now available in most parts of the country, you can enjoy smooth rides conveniently.
EVision
EVision is an award-winning electric car rental with a wide variety of vehicles and options to rent. It offers both short and long-term car rental services. It is available in most parts of the UK and the US.
Its fleet consists of the latest EV vehicles in the market, including Tesla Model S, X, and 3. Other top electric vehicles include the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, Kia e-Niro, Porsche Taycan, Renault ZOE, Vauxhall Corsa-e, and Audi e-Tron. These cars provide luxurious, comfortable, and exciting experiences.
Through EVision, you can also hire fully electric vans such as the Renault Kangoo and Vauxhall Vivaro-e. All EVision Cars are charged on-site using solar energy to provide true green motioning.
EV Go
EV Go is a highly popular electric car rental in the UK. It allows users to experience excellence and comfort while driving sustainably.
EV Go has a fleet of fully electric cars such as the Tesla models S and 3. These cars are highly comfortable and feature contemporary designs. EV Go is committed to providing high levels of luxury while keeping carbon emissions at the lowest point possible.
Ufodrive
Ufodrive is an electric car rental company that incorporates the latest technologies to help users achieve a sustainable lifestyle. You can pick from a wide variety of cars, including Tesla models 3 and S, Volkswagen ID.3, Nissan Leaf, and more. It is available in most parts of Europe, including Paris, London, Cologne, Brussels, Amsterdam, Dublin, and more.
Ufodrive’s fleet includes electric cars with a range of between 250 km to 400 km. Ideally, it provides cars suitable for your traveling needs.
Best Hybrid Car Rental Companies
Hybrid car rentals have been on the rise since the inception of the technology. Hybrid cars provide the perfect alternatives to conventional cars. While they are not fully carbon-free, the minimal emission they provide befits the eco-friendly category.
Our favorite hybrid car rental companies include:
Green Motion
Besides electric cars, Green Motion also serves as one of the world’s best hybrid car rental companies. It has a variety of hybrid cars in its fleet, including the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius, Kia Niro Hybrid, Fiat 500, and Toyota Yaris. These cars are incredibly fuel efficient and leave behind a low carbon footprint that you can easily offset.
Green Motion is the go-to hybrid car rental company if you still want to experience the thrill of gas-powered vehicles while still minimizing emissions.
Hertz
Hertz has an eco-friendly hybrid car collection for sustainable traveling. Some of the top Hertz hybrid cars include the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima, and Toyota Camry hybrid.
Besides offering a fleet of hybrid cars, Hertz has a green hotel, rail, air, and travel partnerships.
Avis
Avis is a hybrid car rental service offering sustainable travel services all over the US. It has a fleet of cars consisting of the Chevrolet Bolt and the Toyota Prius Hybrid. These cars are very fuel-efficient and eco-friendly.
Avis Prestige, on the other hand, is a UK-based car rental service with a fleet of luxury hybrid cars such as the Jaguar i-Pace, Range Rover Evoque P300e, and Volvo XC90. These green cars feature the latest infotainment features, satellite navigation, spacious leather interiors, and more.
Budget
Budget Car Rental Company has a hybrid offering for the eco-conscious traveler. With Budget, you can rent a hybrid car like the Chevrolet Bolt or the Toyota Prius. You can also rent comfortable luxury cars like the Chevrolet Camaro.
SIXT
SIXT allows you to travel sustainably with its fleet of hybrid cars. These cars give you high fuel economy, meaning you can drive for a long way without refueling. Eco-conscious travelers can hire hybrid cars such as the Kia Niro, BMW i8, BMW 225xe, and more. This car rental company is available in most parts of the world, including the US, Spain, France, UK, and the Netherlands.
Recently, SIXT added fully electric cars to its fleet. These cars provide transport services with minimal emissions and plenty of comfort.
EV Rides
EV Rides provides a fully electric vehicle fleet to suit your sustainable transport needs. It has a contactless, quick, and convenient rental process. It’s the major electric car rental in Colorado, mainly in Denver.
Most EV Rides cars are ultra-modern and locally owned and operated. This way, EV Rides promotes both social, economic, and environmental benefits to the locations they operate in.
Tips for Hybrid and Electric Rental Cars
Hybrid and electric cars feature contemporary green technology to minimize the use of fossil fuels. They are the best choices for eco-conscious travelers who want to contribute to the efforts in place to curb climate change.
Here are some top tips to help you get around in hybrid and electric rental cars:
Charging is Mandatory for Electric Vehicles
If you are renting a fully electric vehicle, you should plan for charging sessions. Unlike gas-powered vehicles that you can refuel in minutes, EVs can take from 30 mins to 8 hours to achieve a full charge, depending on the battery size and charging speed . A fully charged EV has a range of about 100-400 km depending on the type of car. Therefore, it’s best to plan your schedule to accommodate charging sessions. Also, plan ahead to know where on your route the charging stations will be.
Pay Attention to Special Operating Instructions
Unlike gas-powered vehicles that you only need to start, engage drive gears and get going, EVs and hybrid cars have a learning curve. Most car rental companies provide special instructions that you should observe at all times. These instructions include recovery rules in case of a breakdown, maintenance, charging, and more. Observing these rules prevents you from any mix-ups with the rental car company.
Pick Vehicles with a Lower Mileage
While mileage might not accurately gauge car performance and reliability, it’s still essential. When hiring hybrid or electric cars, always pick the ones with the lowest mileage possible. Low-mileage vehicles often have fewer mishaps compared to high-mileage ones. This is because the sophisticated technology depreciates with the mileage. For instance, older EV vehicles have a lower range than newer models.
The Bottom Line
Renting an EV or hybrid car is imperative to sustainable travel. These cars have minimal carbon emissions, and this is a great win for the planet. There is no doubt that EVs and hybrid cars are the future of traveling due to their low negative impact on the planet.
Hey reader! Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means that if you make a purchase using any of these links, we’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Hidden Lemur is committed to promoting sustainable travel, and we only partner with brands that we believe contribute positively to that cause.
