The rental company accused of grabbing electric cars

Money machine

Hertz Australia requires renters to return the vehicle with 90% battery capacity. After all, that is also how cars are produced. If you don’t do this, you will receive some kind of fine. You might think that releasing an EV with a nearly full battery is easy to do.

However, the small print does not indicate that Hertz has reduced the battery capacity by 90%. It is therefore not possible to deliver the car with a ‘full’ battery, unless there is a charging station in front of the door. This means that every customer is guaranteed to receive a fine.

The maximum battery capacity can be set by the driver, but Hertz has kept that function behind the lock for administrators. 100% perfection is unattainable.

Cut and money

In response to much criticism, Hertz assures customers that they “intend to soon introduce a revised and more accommodating policy” for the Australian EV fleet.

At the same time, however, the American branch of the company has indicated that it will stop buying more electric cars. Weak demand and high maintenance costs will make EVs less attractive compared to traditional gasoline and diesel models. The order for more Polestars has already been cancelled.

Until then, additional income will continue to flow in Down Under.