When do you think you will buy a 100% pure electric vehicle?

[IcSyU]

I own one but have never rented. Usually because I’m unsure of charging availability at hotels.

Have you had a negative experience? Interested to hear more.

I haven't but my BIL is a moron and did and then was super pissed about how poor his experience was after my wife told him renting an EV was a bad idea.

Doesn't have the apps that make pulling up to chargers and being ready to go easy.
Didn't know the charging infrastructure.
Didn't know the area.
Didn't understand how the range actually works in practice.

Just a recipe for disaster. I would argue some falls on the rental company for the car not being fully charged to begin with but there was plenty of self inflicted harm along the way.

 

[twincyties]

I would probably not consider renting if I were used to driving one. It’s not incredibly different but did take a while getting used to.

New driving experience plus area you’re potentially unfamiliar with is not a good combo.

I’ve also heard bad things about cars having little charge upon pickup. Unless you’re going straight yo hotel with available fast charging that is an inconvenience at best and a nightmare at worst.

 

[herbicide]

I haven't but my BIL is a moron and did and then was super pissed about how poor his experience was after my wife told him renting an EV was a bad idea.

Doesn't have the apps that make pulling up to chargers and being ready to go easy.
Didn't know the charging infrastructure.
Didn't know the area.
Didn't understand how the range actually works in practice.

Just a recipe for disaster. I would argue some falls on the rental company for the car not being fully charged to begin with but there was plenty of self inflicted harm along the way.

I've never rented one but have heard a few other horror(ish) stories, from people that commonly rent vehicles. Specifically the partially charged one, and also essentially needing access to an unobtainable app. Well technically not unobtainable, but unusable. Needed some sort of owner's code to link vehicle to App. You would think the rental company would have provided, but they did not.

 

[FinalFourCy]

I own one but have never rented. Usually because I’m unsure of charging availability at hotels.

Have you had a negative experience? Interested to hear more.

IMO, for those on the fence, if they can handle renting one on a trip, owning will be easy.

I’ve rented many times with no more issues than ICE rentals, but know several people that were unaccustomed to the importance of trip planning that hated the experience

But it’s gotten a lot better in the last 5 years. I really hope it improves even more in the next 5, otherwise it’ll be another industry China owns

Since we’re sharing “EVs aren’t for everyone” stories, they’re not for my SO. Which was predictable given how frequently she’s nearly out of gas and has a dead cell phone

 

[dmclone]

I agree with everyone, driving for the first time in an EV as a rental is not a good idea. There are certain things that are great about driving an EV, but some of those things take some time to get used to using. One pedal driving, no button to turn car on/off, finding the wipers, adjusting the temp, etc. If I don't drive my wife's car for a few weeks, it takes me a few minutes to remember everything.

 

[dmclone]

In other news, some Tesla vehicles got another 30 day trial of FSD. I've only used this version a couple of times but I'm amazed at the progress compared to the last trial a few months ago. The last version did fine on highways, but we had a few interventions in town.

 

[nfrine]

EV's seem to be the vehicle of choice this week. A Ford Lightning and a Telsa Cybertruck were used in the New Orleans and Las Vegas terrorist acts.

 

[dmclone]

EV's seem to be the vehicle of choice this week. A Ford Lightning and a Telsa Cybertruck were used in the New Orleans and Las Vegas terrorist acts.

It sounds like the CyberTruck may have prevented more damage. I'm going to take a wild guess that if this was a typical ICE truck, the fuel tank would have exploded as well. It's pretty impressive that the battery didn't catch fire.

 

[besserheimerphat]

I need a truck with an extended bed for work. I won’t be buying that ugly looking truck thing that’s for sure. I’m hoping to get at least another 3 years out of my 2019 Nissan XL diesel. After that, I’ll see what advancements have been made. I’m not a, screw electric! Or fossil fuels only! I’m for advancements and if something works for me that is electric, so be it.

I really like the Nissan full size trucks. Just wish they offered an 8 foot bed.

 

[HOTDON]

I really like the Nissan full size trucks. Just wish they offered an 8 foot bed.

What do you like about the Nissans that others don't do better? Honestly curious. Nissan isn't a market leader anywhere anymore, but their trucks have seemed like a total afterthought on our shores. I can't think of a segment where there aren't multiple better options, which is a shame because the late 90's and early 2000's they were booming.

 

[besserheimerphat]

What do you like about the Nissans that others don't do better? Honestly curious. Nissan isn't a market leader anywhere anymore, but their trucks have seemed like a total afterthought on our shores. I can't think of a segment where there aren't multiple better options, which is a shame because the late 90's and early 2000's they were booming.

When the Titan was first released, they had some nice storage features that the Big 3 have since copied. Their fit/finish and capacities were very competitive. But I suspect they didn't catch on because 1) they ain't Amurican and 2) they don't have Toyota's reliability reputation.

The Titan XL had higher payload and towing capacities than the Big 3 1/2 ton trucks at the time. It was basically a "5/8 ton" truck.

 

[MeowingCows]

What do you like about the Nissans that others don't do better? Honestly curious. Nissan isn't a market leader anywhere anymore, but their trucks have seemed like a total afterthought on our shores. I can't think of a segment where there aren't multiple better options, which is a shame because the late 90's and early 2000's they were booming.

I'd think the Frontier is an attractive small truck right now for the savvy buyer. Completely refreshed inside and out, still all traditional drivetrain, and they get good discounts here and there since they don't sell that well.

Usually with Asian brands it's the interiors and tech that feels outdated compared to domestic competitors. If you don't care about that side, there might be some good deals to be had.

 

[dmclone]

It will be interesting to see what is done with Nissan trucks when Honda/Nissan join together. My guess is that they kill off all of the nissan trucks. Although Nissan is already killing off all of their cars. So a few SUV's?

 

[KremitGreens]

I really enjoy my Titan. It has been pretty reliable considering I’ve put 120,000 on it in 4 years. The Cummin diesel was the selling point for me and the fact that it was about $10k cheaper at the time. All in all, great work truck for the price.

 

[HFCS]

You don’t pick the speed you charge at.

I’d love for someone to explain the variables of why they same fast charger hardware gives me different speeds different places/times.

I’ve had enough road trips now I bet I’ve charged at electrify America 12 times with my rate ranging from 29kwh to 111kwh. The 2023 version of my car (Solterra) is notoriously slow but I have the 2024 which I believe is just below average.

 

[HFCS]

Your owning an EV says nothing about it's appropriateness for anyone else. This is exactly what I am talking about. I'm glad you like it though. What are you driving?

But he knows a lot about owning an ICE and an EV.

The people who fear and hate EVs the most know nothing about owning one.

That doesn’t mean EVs are perfect for 100% of people in 2025, but it means EV owners have a better idea of reality. Their understanding of the positives and negatives are based far more in reality and almost zero fear based.

 

[nfrine]

I really enjoy my Titan. It has been pretty reliable considering I’ve put 120,000 on it in 4 years. The Cummin diesel was the selling point for me and the fact that it was about $10k cheaper at the time. All in all, great work truck for the price.

2024 is/was the last year for the Nissan Titan.

 

[dmclone]

I’d love for someone to explain the variables of why they same fast charger hardware gives me different speeds different places/times.

I’ve had enough road trips now I bet I’ve charged at electrify America 12 times with my rate ranging from 29kwh to 111kwh. The 2023 version of my car (Solterra) is notoriously slow but I have the 2024 which I believe is just below average.

Does it have anything to do with level of charge. My wifes car charges a lot faster when it's empty. Does the Solterra do pre-conditioning?

 

[HFCS]

I've never rented one but have heard a few other horror(ish) stories, from people that commonly rent vehicles. Specifically the partially charged one, and also essentially needing access to an unobtainable app. Well technically not unobtainable, but unusable. Needed some sort of owner's code to link vehicle to App. You would think the rental company would have provided, but they did not.

I’m quite sure I will never own a gas car again. I’d probably prefer a gas car rental for business travel though unless I were somehow incredibly familiar with where I’m staying and trusting that the rental place will have it half charged.

 

[HFCS]

Does it have anything to do with level of charge. My wifes car charges a lot faster when it's empty. Does the Solterra do pre-conditioning?

The dozen or so times I’ve used a fast charger I’m usually starting around 20%. At the very first few minutes I’ve been as low as 29, as high as 111, but 55 is probably “typical” rate of charge. Doesn’t seem to matter if I’m at a max 150 or max 350.

I’m also almost always between 50 and 75 degrees outside because the weather doesn’t really change here, although one trip in the desert it was over 100 and seemed same as any other time. I think temp is probably less of an issue for me than vast majority.