Charging, range and a few simple habits for your first EV rental.
An electric car is a good way to explore a city: it is quiet, smooth and very cheap to run. If you have never driven one, here is what to expect from our Nissan Leaf, and how to make your first electric rental easy.
Range: how far will it really go?
The Leaf has a realistic range of about 240 km on a full charge in mild weather. Highway speeds, air conditioning and heavy loads reduce that, so plan for about 200 km when you set off with a full battery. That is enough for a day around Miami, a trip to Palm Beach and back, or a round trip to the Everglades.
Charging in three steps
- Plug in: open the charge flap at the front of the car and connect the cable. We provide the home charging cable in the boot.
- Choose the speed: public fast chargers can add around 80% in 40 minutes. A normal wall socket is slow, adding about 10 km of range per hour, so it works for overnight charging only.
- Pay: most public chargers accept a card or app. Typical cost is $0.30 to $0.45 per kWh, about $6 to $9 for a full charge.
Where to charge in Miami
There are fast chargers at shopping centres, hotels and many parking garages, and our Downtown Hub has a charging point for renters. Free apps will show nearby chargers on the map; ask us at pick-up for our recommended list.
Driving tips
- Use e-Pedal mode: lifting your foot slows the car and recovers energy, so you rarely need the brake pedal in town.
- Pre-cool the cabin while the car is still plugged in. It saves battery.
- Keep the speed moderate on highways; every 10 km/h faster costs noticeable range.
- Do not wait until the last bar. Plan to charge when you are below 20%.
Returning the car
Return it with a similar charge to the one you picked up with. We note the battery level on the agreement, and if it is much lower we charge for the missing energy at cost.
Is an electric rental right for you?
If most of your days are shorter than 200 km, you can charge easily and you want to save on fuel, absolutely. For long road trips with limited stops, a hybrid or petrol car is simpler. Tell us your plans and we will recommend the best fit.