Everything You Need to Know Before Renting an Electric Vehicle

How to Drive an EV

EVs can be fast, so start out slow to get used to the instant acceleration. Certain EVs have what’s known as “one-pedal driving,” which means the accelerator pedal controls both speeding up and slowing down. There are still two pedals — an accelerator and a brake — but in an EV, there is a regenerative brake setting. If the regenerative braking is set higher, the vehicle relies on the accelerator more heavily to determine the speed. As you press on the accelerator the car speeds up, as expected. But when you lighten up on the accelerator the car slows more significantly. Speed is directly related to the pressure and will slow proportionately as you lighten the pressure. Some EVs will come to a full stop when the brake pedal is released; others come close to a complete stop but still require the brake pedal to be engaged to come to a standstill. There’s a bit of a learning curve. It may feel strange at first, but once you’re comfortable with one-pedal driving, it’s a smooth ride and many drivers come to love it. Give it a try in your rental vehicle, and if you hate it, good news — most EVs let drivers switch off that “one-pedal” feature just by toggling the setting.

How to Charge an EV

Charging is the hurdle many first-time EV drivers have the most questions about. Typically, EV owners do 70 percent of their charging at home, but with a rental, you’ll always be plugging in somewhere new. You’ll want multiple apps and accounts with various public charging networks (for example, Tesla, ChargePoint, FLO, Ivy, SWTCH). Make sure you’ve done this app research ahead of time. When you make the booking, you can always ask the rental company which apps are the most prominent in the area. There are different types of charging plugs — NACS, SAE and CHAdeMO. When you pick up your rental, make sure to ask which type of charging plug you’ll need — or check the vehicle’s manual. You can also verify if your rental EV includes a plug adaptor because at the charging station you’ll need to find a charger that is compatible with your vehicle. When in need of a charge, navigate to a public charging station, using the car’s infotainment system, your phone’s map app (like Google Maps) or through the charging apps mentioned earlier. Filter searches by plug type and speed. Level 2 chargers are best for longer stops and overnight charging, while Level 3 (DC fast) chargers are ideal for quick stops such as highway rest areas. These fast chargers supply direct current (DC), which is the same way an EV’s battery stores energy. Slower chargers supply alternating current (AC), which the car’s onboard converter needs to convert to DC before storing it in the battery, and that extra step takes time. If you’re already experiencing range anxiety, it may help to know that, according to National Resources (NRCan), as of April 2026, there are 2,706 Level 3 and 12,353 Level 2 charging stations across the country. And those numbers are growing. EVs come with a steep learning curve, but, just like with a gas-powered vehicle, once you get the hang of driving and charging an EV, it all becomes second nature. CAA