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26 May 2026 · SunnVio

Renting an electric car on holiday: handy or not?

An electric rental car is quiet, automatic and cheap to charge at your hotel. On long drives and in remote areas it does need more planning. Here is how to decide whether an EV suits your trip.

When is an electric car handy?

• You stay in one region: day trips of 100 to 200 kilometres are easy on one charge with any modern EV.
• Your hotel has a charger: charging overnight is the cheapest, and you start every day with a full battery.
• You want an automatic: an electric car is always automatic, handy if you prefer not to change gear.
• You're going to a country with plenty of chargers: such as the Netherlands, Norway or France.

When is petrol or diesel the better choice?

• You drive long distances of more than 300 kilometres a day on the motorway.
• You are going to remote areas or islands with few fast chargers, such as parts of the Greek islands or inland Spain and Portugal.
• Your hotel or apartment has no charger and you don't want to wait at a fast charger every day.

Range in practice

You almost never reach the range from the brochure on holiday. On the motorway at 120 to 130 km/h, with a full load of luggage and the air conditioning on, you often get a quarter to a third less far. In the mountains climbing uses a lot of energy, but going downhill you recover some of it. So plan with a margin and charge before the battery drops below 20 percent.

Charging: fast or slow

There are two kinds of charging points. At a regular charger, for example at your hotel or in a car park, you usually charge at 11 kW: an empty battery is full overnight. At a fast charger along the motorway, most new cars charge from 10 to 80 percent in 20 to 40 minutes. After that charging slows down, so charging to 100 percent takes a lot of time on the road.

Paying at the charger

Since April 2024, new fast chargers in Europe must accept contactless payment by debit or credit card, and older ones will follow. A charging card or app is handy, but not always necessary. Ask at pick-up whether the rental car comes with a charging card and how the costs are settled. Many Tesla Superchargers in Europe are also open to other brands, via the Tesla app.

Fast charging along the motorway costs more than charging at your hotel or a regular charger. If you mostly charge overnight, you drive most cheaply.

What to check at pick-up

• Charge level: read in your contract what percentage you must return the car with. If you return it with less, the rental company often charges a fee.
• Cable: check that the charging cable is in the car.
• Explanation: ask how to start charging and where to see the charge level and range.
• Charging card: ask whether the car comes with a charging card and how your charging costs are settled.

Driving an EV

An electric car accelerates quickly and is quiet. So pay extra attention to pedestrians in old town centres, as they hear you coming less easily. Braking often happens partly by itself: as soon as you lift off the accelerator, the car slows down and recharges the battery a little. After a few kilometres you get used to it.

Not sure? We help you decide

Not sure whether an EV suits your trip? Add your route to your request and we will advise electric or petrol or diesel. Always all-in and with zero excess. More about choosing between manual and automatic in automatic or manual rental car.

Frequently asked questions

Is an electric rental car more expensive?

That differs per rental company and destination. Charging at your hotel is usually cheaper than filling up; fast charging along the motorway is not always.

Can I drive an electric rental car abroad?

Often yes, as long as it is in your rental contract in advance. Plan your charging stops ahead, especially in countries with fewer chargers.

What if the battery runs empty?

Call the rental company's breakdown assistance. An empty battery often counts as your own fault, though, so extra costs may apply. So charge in good time.