Contrary to public thinking, electric vehicles (EVs) are more reliable than internal combustion ensus electricity prices. They have fewer moving parts and almost no fluids, which significantly reduces the chance of mechanical problems.
So, before you book a car, here are some tidbits of information that could help you make an informed decision about which car to rent for your EV journey.
We offer a small range of EVs and our fleet continues to expand day by day. Current EVs available are shown below.
Tesla Model 3
Model 3 RWD (formerly known as Standard Range Plus)
The Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive (RWD) is the most popular model Tesla offers due to its affordable price. Imported from overseas and manufactured in Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory, this model batteries takes advantage of LFP battery chemistry to offer 355 km* of real world range with a 49 kWh battery pack. This means it has more than enough range to meet your needs for road trips as you can charge at any charging station that has Type 2 or CCS plug.
The car comes with a premium interior and features that makes the experience even more worthwhile considering how affordable it is. The car comes with apps such as Youtube, Netflix, Spotify and etc. to keep you connected and other fun features such as Caraoke to make the trip more memorable. Sweetening the deal more, this model also has Sentry Mode, a 360 degree camera system that can help you feel at ease when it is left alone. A real bang for your buck!
Model 3 Long Range
This particular model is similar to the Model 3 RWD but comes fully packed with premium features and has up to 490 km* of range in one charge for the latest models.
Model 3 Performance
If you are after the best of what Tesla has to offer in the Model 3, the Model 3 performance may be what you are looking for. The Performance model is similar to the Long Range but with more powerful electric motors at the cost of range (470 km*).
Tesla Model S
Currently, the Tesla Model S only comes in two trims, the Model S and Model S Plaid. These models are not currently available on evee.
We do have the earlier versions of the Model S which come in different ranges. The most common model is the 75D or the Standard Range which offers a more luxurious sedan Tesla has to offer. This model comes with a 75 kWh battery that has up to 420 km* of range.
Tesla Model X
Similar to Model S, currently there are only two trims of the Model X from Tesla, the Model X and Model X Plaid. These models are currently not available on evee.
We do have the earlier versions of the Model X which comes with different ranges. There is the 100D. The 100D comes with a 100kWh battery pack that has up to 400 km* of range.
Charging & Trip Planning
When it comes to planning a road trip it is important to first check what charger type your rental is compatible with and then what kinds of chargers are available on your route and/or nearby.
Charge Types
All Model 3’s and any newer models come with a CCS Combo charge port that are compatible with CCS chargers for DC Fast charging and with Type 2 Chargers for AC charging. Think of it like your phone which requires a certain plug type to be able to charge.
While the Model S and X only come with Type 2 charge ports and are compatible with only Type 2 charging stations. Some hosts may include a Type 2 to CCS adapter so that you can charge at CCS charging stations. Please enquire with your host if they offer this.
Charging Networks
It is important to be mindful of what charging networks are available. Much like petrol stations, there are also a number of different companies that operate in this space. In Australia, we have Tesla, Chargefox, Evie, and a number of other independent chargers.
These companies offer you fast charging and destination charging. Fast charging stations are located along major interstate routes and highways to make your road trips more easy. Fast charging (50 kW) generally can take up to an hour to fully charge your car. There are also ultra-fast charging stations (150 kW - 350 kW) which can charge your car fully in approximately 10 - 40 mins depending on speeds.
Destination chargers are also available and conveniently located popular destinations such as hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, and more. These charges (7 kW - 22 kW) can fully charge your car in 1 - 5 hours to charge your car.
To find out where these chargers are located near you or along your route, please have a look at the following maps.
Alternatively, you can visit PlugShare.com to see all known locations for chargers. Please make sure to use the filter to show only chargers that use CCS and Type 2 plug types.
Charging at Home
All electric vehicles can be plugged into a common household outlet. This is one of the most convenient features. Imagine you get home, plug it in, get up in the morning and it is ready to go. There is no need to deviate from your planned route to get petrol. Each vehicle comes with a mobile charger for this reason and sufficient charge is achieved over night.
These chargers are much slower than most public chargers but is enough for daily usage. Public chargers are generally used for convenience and for road trips.
Trip Planner
There are two free trip planners that you could use to help plan your trip. Tesla has their own trip planner that allows you to choose which car you have to suggest where the nearest chargers are on your route. Tesla’s trip planner can be found here.
Alternatively, you can use PlugShare.com which shows you other chargers besides Tesla that you can use and lets you know if the charge is free and if it is currently working.
When consulting these trip planners please make sure to double check on the charge network maps of the respective network via their app to see if it is operational and if the stall is already in use.
*All range estimates are based on data from www.ev-database.org.