New research from car rental giant Hertz has suggested that Australia’s car rental industry could spur EV adoption and help ease the country’s EV anxiety.
According to the new research from Hertz, 67% of Australians say they would rent an EV as a “try before you buy” road test. This backs up the 59% of Australian motorists who say they will consider buying an EV as their next car.
Unsurprisingly, 78% of respondents noted the benefit of an EV as an escape from the rising fuel prices. Other factors motivating Australians to consider an EV include reducing their carbon footprint (75%), keeping up with future infrastructure and legislation (63%), and lower vehicle maintenance costs (33%).
Despite these numbers promising a future surge in EV adoption, current EV adoption in Australia remains low, with only 2% of respondents saying they currently own an EV, and fewer than 5% having ever driven one.
It’s this reason, with two-thirds of respondents saying they would rent an EV as an extended test drive before purchasing, that Hertz VP of the APAC region, Eoin MacNeill, believes that the car rental industry is well positioned to break down concerns and drive up EV adoption.
“As a country, we are becoming more environmentally conscious,” said MacNeill.
“In fact, our research found that the vast majority (80%) of Australians identify themselves as eco-conscious.
“At Hertz, we’re finding that customers who try our EVs, love them. Not just because of the environmental benefits, but also because the experience is helping them to dispel some of the predetermined myths [that] they may have had about driving one.”
Just as unsurprising as concerns over rising fuel prices, Hertz’s research showed that 70% of motorists perceive EVs as too expensive – and with the cheapest EV available in Australia still priced over $40,000, those concerns are well founded. Even a second-hand MG ZS EV – the cheapest EV available in Australia – sells for over $35,000.
Conversely, however, concerns that there is a lack of charging infrastructure across the country (52%) is being gradually addressed, with continued build-out of EV networks in virtually every state.
“As a car rental business, the bulk of our customers are repeat ones, whether that be for business or leisure,” said MacNeill.
“What has changed is we’re now seeing a new customer segment emerge that simply want to trial a Tesla or Polestar vehicle. In many ways, the rental industry is the ultimate try-before-you-buy experience and as a result, we believe it’s only a matter of time before EVs become commonplace on Australian roads.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.