6 ms·

The systems aren't hard to use, quite the opposite, but they can't help if you don't use them. I think if Hertz spent even 5 minutes explaining to people how t

The systems aren't hard to use, quite the opposite, but they can't help if you don't use them. I think if Hertz spent even 5 minutes explaining to people how the in-car navigation worked and emphasizing how important it is this experiment have been a success. The car will work out the charging stops for you, tell you how long you need to be there (hint: not long), and do all of the stressful planning steps automatically. It's not just Tesla either. All major EVs come with route planning. If you have range anxiety you're using it wrong. This isn't even the driver's fault, how can they know about these features if nobody tells them? I don't even fully blame Hertz for this. Tesla should be marketing the route planning nationwide. Show people how life with EVs actually is instead of leaving them in the dark and letting them think that owning an EV means a roll of the dice every time you get behind the wheel where you might not find a friendly plug in time and be stranded on the side with no way to jerrycan more miles.

lelanthran 3y ago
> The systems aren't hard to use, quite the opposite, but they can't help if you don't use them. I'm not claiming that the systems are hard to use, I'm saying that it's an additional friction over ICE cars, in which you don't need to put in extra work to learn a piece of software, you don't need to wait for the rental assistant to explain how it works and you don't need to plan refuelling stops to coincide with rest times. As a renter, I give them my booking number, my drivers license and my credit card, then jump in and head straight to my destination. All the other stuff that the Tesla's required may be easy, but we go from 2 steps (pay and drive) to 5 or more steps. TBH, if Hertz had wanted this to be a success, the biggest thing they could have done was made sure that the cars were always fully charged before the customer drove off. Route-planning is kinda irrelevant when you're doubling the friction required to rent a car.
mulmen 3y ago
5 marginal minutes is an eternity in customer service. Travelers are in a rush. The idea that Hertz will or even can train customers individually is a laughable fantasy.
- ghaff 3y ago
  In fact, one of the points of my loyalty programs with various car rental companies is that I can look at the board and walk straight to my car.
WheatMillington 3y ago
>If you have range anxiety you're using it wrong. Sorry but that is a hyper-obnoxious comment. I've never yet driven an EV, and range anxiety is undoubtedly something I will experience when I eventually get to. I don't want that in the context of being away from home on work or holiday.

lelanthran 3y ago

> The systems aren't hard to use, quite the opposite, but they can't help if you don't use them. I'm not claiming that the systems are hard to use, I'm saying that it's an additional friction over ICE cars, in which you don't need to put in extra work to learn a piece of software, you don't need to wait for the rental assistant to explain how it works and you don't need to plan refuelling stops to coincide with rest times. As a renter, I give them my booking number, my drivers license and my credit card, then jump in and head straight to my destination. All the other stuff that the Tesla's required may be easy, but we go from 2 steps (pay and drive) to 5 or more steps. TBH, if Hertz had wanted this to be a success, the biggest thing they could have done was made sure that the cars were always fully charged before the customer drove off. Route-planning is kinda irrelevant when you're doubling the friction required to rent a car.

mulmen 3y ago

5 marginal minutes is an eternity in customer service. Travelers are in a rush. The idea that Hertz will or even can train customers individually is a laughable fantasy.

ghaff 3y ago
In fact, one of the points of my loyalty programs with various car rental companies is that I can look at the board and walk straight to my car.

WheatMillington 3y ago

>If you have range anxiety you're using it wrong. Sorry but that is a hyper-obnoxious comment. I've never yet driven an EV, and range anxiety is undoubtedly something I will experience when I eventually get to. I don't want that in the context of being away from home on work or holiday.