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DRIVE ELECTRIC
CHARGE ON
Electric vehicles (EVs) are powered by batteries that provide energy to electric motors, driving motion to the wheels. Keeping the battery charged is key to keeping the vehicle moving and is just as easy as filling up on fuel in a petrol or diesel-powered car.
At Hertz, we are available to clarify everything about charching an eletric vehicle: step-by-step instructions, where to charge, how long the charging takes, and how long it lasts. During your trip, you can check the nearest public charging points on the network.
How
To start charging your Hertz electric car, please note that the process begins by connecting the EV to a mains source, known as a charging station. Once connected to the charging station, EVs use their charging port and onboard charger to convert the external power into battery charge. While all-electric cars (BEVs), such as Model 3, must be repowered at a charging station, hybrid vehicles can be recharged at a charging station or refueled at a petrol station. Learn more here.
EVs are able to charge at three different levels of power output:
Domestic sockets and some lower powered wall boxes deliver slow charging. Every hour charging adds about 6-8 miles. These are to be used when you will be at a destination for a many hours, e.g. overnight.
Some domestic wall boxes and many public charging stations deliver fast charging. On an 11kW charger, every hour charging adds about 35-40 miles. These are useful if you are stopping for a few hours, e.g. for a meeting or dinner.
Rapid chargers are found at public charging stations and deliver the fastest way of charging the car. On a 100kW charger, every hour charging can add up to 300-400 miles (depending on vehicle). These are useful for a quick re-charging stop while travelling to your destination.
EV batteries also receive power through a process called regenerative (regen) braking. Regen braking uses torque to slow the car, recapturing energy that is normally lost in non-electric cars by using an inverter to invert energy from the brakes.
While regen braking does improve the battery charge, it is not the primary source of recharging for all-electric vehicles (BEVs). For maximum performance, a charging station is required to repower the battery.
Recharging an EV is just like filling up with gas, but rather than inserting a nozzle at a petrol station, you insert a connector at a charging station. Below is a step-bu-step guide on how to charge a Tesla Model 3:
Tesla Model 3 is compatible with all EV charging stations and each of our Model 3 hire cars comes equipped with a Type 2 Cable, that can be attached to the charging point.
The future of car rental
Where
In addition to being able to charge the car at home, public charging points can help you continue your journey safely. You may also find some Supercharger points, exclusive for charging your Tesla.
Requiring only limited space, electric vehicle charging stations can be located in places similar to fuel stations, such as along highways or even at fuel stations. These locations include public parking lots, office and store parking areas, or even busy streets in city centers.
There are various ways to find the nearest charging point to you. In Model 3, Tesla's Supercharger points are represented by red pins on the navigation screen. You can also tap on the lightning icon available on the touchscreen or request location options via voice command.
Time
Electric car charging times vary depending on the size of the battery and the charging station output. The vehicle model affects the charge time as well, with manufacturers like Tesla and others having different models that offer varying charge periods.
However, if you know the power output level of a charging station, you will know whether to expect a slower or faster charging experience. When available, we encourage you to select charging stations in the following order:
Cost
Charging an EV at home has been found to be the most affordable and common option, with owners typically doing 80% of charging at home.
While you’re likely not home while hiring a car, some of our rental cars include domestic cables, such as Tesla Model 3 hire vehicles that include a Type 2 Cable, which enables you to connect the car to a standard household outlet, should one be available during your trip. Additionally, the home charging savings are worth noting when comparing refueling costs of petrol or diesel-powered cars.
So how much does it cost to charge an EV at a public charging station? In short, it varies, but is always more affordable – and greener – than filling up with petrol. Although free public charging stations do exist, most stations charge a fee based on kWh usage, charging time or percentage of battery charged.
There are various charging points available to assist you on your journey, and the provider of each charging point will charge you directly for its use. Just like home charging rates can vary, public charging rates may also differ – even within the same city.*
No matter the distance of your trip, charging an electric car will certainly be more economical compared to refueling a petrol or diesel car.
*Ask your Hertz store for information on how to charge your vehicle.
Range
Electric cars are capable of reaching different driving ranges, depending on:
Most EVs easily travel over 200 miles on a full charge, with select Tesla models reaching beyond that. With electric vehicle technology advancing all the time, these ranges are estimated to increase over the coming years.
Just like a car powered by petrol or diesel, weather conditions and the style in which you drive an electric car will affect how much power the car has. For example, harsh braking uses more energy, whether a car operates by fuel or electric. Exercising safe driving practices will stop the car from wasting vital energy that could get it further down the road.
Likewise, things like using up other power-draining instruments and accessories onboard can deplete the battery. This includes entertainment systems, lighting and air conditioning.
Although unlikely to occur if you are monitoring your charge, as Tesla models detects the low charge and provides plenti of alerts and warnings, as well as suggested nearby charging station locations via pop-up notifications.
If you choose to rent a Tesla with Hertz for your stay in Portugal, know that battery monitoring can be done in multiple ways. Displayed in a prominent location on the touchscreen, the battery meter reflects the charge remaining with numerical percentage, a status bar and color changes (green to yellow to red), and the battery range displays estimated miles remaining. Using Tesla’s voice command technology, you can also ask your car for an update on its battery charge.
Ready to recharge and rethink the way you drive? Find uot more about electric vehicles and suport eco-driving.
Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.
Courtesy of Tesla, Inc.