Range anxiety, apps, and keeping an eye on charging stations. There's a lot to think about if you're going to rent an electric car this summer.
It's a completely different thing from driving a petrol-driven car. They're fundamentally different, says Cecilia Saberi at car rental giant Hertz.
For those thinking of taking an electric car out for the first time this summer, there are things to consider before the trip.
Katja Runestam Prinzell, an adviser and coordinator at the Swedish Motorists' Association, says you should look at the battery capacity and compare the range – which can vary greatly between different car models.
On site at the rental location, she recommends getting a walkthrough from the rental staff.
You should take a look at the equipment and go through it, because it's a bit different driving an electric car compared to a fossil-fuelled car, she says.
Cooling or range?
If it's hot outside and you want to use the air conditioning, you won't get as far with the electric car, just like if you turn on the heating in the winter.
Everything in the car draws from the same energy source, says Runestam Prinzell.
The next step is to download different charging apps, which are needed to charge at the different stations. The biggest difference from petrol-driven cars is that you can't just fill up the tank in a few minutes and drive off.
You have to take the time to plan when you're driving an electric car, which you might not need to do with a fossil-fuelled car. You have to make time for things to take time, says Cecilia Saberi at Hertz.
A good idea is to plan meal or coffee breaks with charging needs, and take the opportunity to charge the car when you're taking a longer break anyway. It's worth checking that there's a charging possibility where you're staying, or at least that there's a charging station nearby.
At hotels, it can be more expensive. Often, it's not the hotels themselves that own and are responsible for the charging stations, but an external operator, says Runestam Prinzell.
You should also check if parking fees apply, so you don't get fined.
Three different
According to Hertz, there are currently three equal-sized types of private customers. Some have driven electric cars through work, are familiar, and happily choose electric cars. A second group is curious about electric cars, and the third group absolutely refuses to drive electric cars. The third group might struggle in the future.
You have a choice to make. We need to make a green transition as humans, but also as companies. And when we and the car manufacturers phase out our fossil-fuelled cars, we'll only have electric cars left, says Cecilia Saberi.
In total, there are around 40,000 publicly accessible charging points in Sweden.
There are several companies that have invested in charging infrastructure in Sweden, with their own payment and app solutions, including the major electricity companies.
The most common charging connector is the so-called type 2. But there are a few others, and different strengths. So, it's essential to know what type your car has, so it's compatible with the charging station in question.
With the weakest type of normal charging (3.6 kW), it can take ten hours to charge the car, while the highest-capacity charger (500 kW) can do it in as little as 10-30 minutes.
