Rent electric cars from Europcar, Sixt, Hertz and Co.: Only one car rental company gives away the electricity

At Europcar , part of the charging power is free – for now. Anyone currently renting a pure electric car or a plug-in hybrid receives the car with at least 80 percent of the battery charge. It must be returned with at least 15 percent. Applying this to a car with an 80 kW drive battery and a fast-charging station price of around 60 cents, you can save around 30 euros per rental, depending on the kilowatt-hour price.

In the future, however, the car rental company plans to regulate this in the same way as for combustion vehicles. The rental car must be returned with the same fuel level as when it was rented. Those who don't have time to charge can then book the "Full Battery Option." Europcar will then charge the vehicle for a fee. A spokeswoman explains: "With the changing nature of mobility, Europcar is also continuously adapting its offerings: electric vehicles should be priced on par with conventional combustion vehicles in the future. Therefore, charging can then be easily booked in the same way as the full tank option for combustion vehicles."

Europcar has not yet announced when the new regulation will come into effect. The plan is to introduce a charging token attached directly to the vehicle key. "This will allow customers to start charging quickly and easily. The costs will be transparently displayed on the rental car invoice," the company says.

Currently, 11 percent of Europcar's fleet consists of all-electric or hybrid vehicles. The Hamburg-based rental company is also investing in expanding charging stations at its own locations. Currently, one in three is equipped with them. Employees are trained in electric car-related issues "to be able to address individual questions about range, charging processes, or vehicle selection."

A Sixt spokesperson told auto motor und sport : "If the vehicle is picked up with a charge level of more than 80 percent, it must also be returned with at least 80 percent. If the charge level is below this level upon handover, it is sufficient for the customer to return the vehicle with a comparable charge level."

Those who don't want to charge the vehicle themselves can – subject to availability at the respective Sixt station – book the so-called "charging service" at the stated price and return the vehicle uncharged. "In this case, in addition to the one-time charging fee, the electricity costs will be charged according to the current daily prices." The applicable rates are available at the stations. The company does not want to disclose the proportion of electric vehicles in its fleet "for competitive reasons."

At Hertz , the battery level must also be the same at the beginning and end of the rental. "We rent our electric vehicles with a minimum charge level of 80 percent," explains a spokesperson for the rental company. With the "Charge Purchase Option" (CPO), customers have the option of purchasing a battery charge at the time of rental. "In this case, the customer does not have to charge the vehicle themselves before returning it," the statement added upon request.

If the charging option was not booked at the time of rental, Hertz will charge "the kilowatt-hours required, depending on the vehicle model, to charge the vehicle to 80 percent." The price will be communicated to the customer on the rental agreement at the time of rental. If the customer returns the vehicle with a charge level of less than 10 percent, Hertz will charge an additional fee. The rental company also does not disclose what percentage of its fleet is electrified.

At Starcar, electricity consumption is included in the rental price based on the planned mileage "at preferential rates." Any overpayments are refunded upon return. Starcar customers receive a free charging link for recharging on the go. Around 15 percent of the fleet consists of pure electric vehicles (BEVs) or plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). The fact that charging providers bill Starcar directly saves "the customer the hassle of registration processes or the need to deposit payment," according to a spokesperson. Starcar intends to further electrify its fleet: "Further expansion is planned, including vans. We are seeing encouraging demand growth in this segment, especially for our car subscription."

Avis and Enterprise did not answer auto motor und sport 's questions. When renting a Cupra Tavascan for a business trip (see video and photo slideshow), the vehicle had to be returned with the same battery level as when it was rented (80 percent).