2012 Chevrolet Sonic LTZ: RideLust Review
File this under really, really bad ideas: Enterprise Rent-A-Car will begin offering battery powered Coda Sedans at rental car locations throughout the United States. The plan is to deploy one hundred Coda Sedans by the end of 2011, giving renters the opportunity to experience an electric vehicle without actually purchasing one. As part of their partnership with Coda, Enterprise will also provide loaner cars to Coda owners who require service on their vehicles.
The Coda Sedan will accommodate five passengers plus luggage, and has a claimed range of 90 to 120 miles. The batteries require six hours for a full charge, but can be quick charged to a 40 mile range in just two hours. As far as EVs go, it’s stylish, it looks comfortable and it comes well appointed for a price just a little higher than a Chevy Volt.
So why is this a bad idea? Because, generally speaking, those renting cars underestimate the mileage they’ll drive, and even Coda only provides estimated range data. Sure, they say the car will go 90 to 120 miles under normal conditions, but what happens when you have five passengers plus luggage? What about range in the summer, with the A/C on max, and no traffic. Will that be 40 miles? Less, perhaps? What happens when a customer runs the batteries to zero in the middle of the freeway at rush hour? Will Enterprise send another fully charged Coda to replace the dead one?
How about those who rent the car and forget to plug it in overnight? How many missed events will result, triggering lawsuits against Enterprise and Coda? Enterprise will need to draft a multi-page disclaimer for EV rentals, and even that won’t be enough to protect them from litigation. I hope I’m wrong, because I’d love to see more EVs on the road, but I don’t think I am.
Source: Autoblog
I dont see how Enterprise would be at fault anymore so then if the person forgets to put gas in the car or try to edge out a few more exits before filling up only to find out they just missed the last gas station for XX miles.
Altough, working in IT, 90% of my work load is to cover 10% of my users that are idiots. Maybe they should have a common sense exam to qualify you to rent it?
Landon, I like that idea. Customers would have to fill out form ’1D10T’ before they could rent a Coda…
people dont care about rentals they beat on them.when you have to to charge a car overnight thats to much like caring for the car,the vehicle will go out half charged and leave people stranded and they will blame enterprise.anywhere else but the u.s,it would work.too many lawyers here.i think you are right on the money on this one kurt
In order to drive this you will have to actually use your brain (plan trips, recharge, drive efficiently, etc.) Considering most people barely know how to wipe their ass, this vehicle with be no doubt absolutely mind blowing. And let’s hope they don’t rent them in extreme hot or cold, range will probably be severally reduced. Can I just see it now, constant tows. And stylish? No way. But a very practical car no doubt if used right.
[...] you’ve been phoning your local Enterprise Car Rental franchise weekly, just to see if the Coda Sedans have hit the fleet yet, it looks like you’ll need to be a bit more patient. The fledgling electric car manufacturer has [...]