Electrification in Car Rental

Η electrification is the trend of the moment when it comes to buying a car.

Every day you hear about how important the transition to electrification is, how climate change is impacting, the subsidy to buy an electric vehicle, the savings and short payback of the purchase capital, the amazing technologies and performance of electrification, etc. Is all this really true? Is this transition worth it at this point in time? Is it worthwhile for a car rental company to invest in electrification?

In the beginning we can say that electrification is a great transition that solves many problems but not all. As was the case before with the car market, the same is true now. The buyer must consider his needs and make the appropriate choice.

In 2025, we have the luxury of having highly reliable vehicles, whether they are petrol, diesel or electric.

Buyers' needs differ and their choice must be appropriate before they can decide for or against any option.

Electromobility is extremely advantageous when we choose it for travel within urban areas, in places where there are charging stations and authorised partners that support electromobility and charging is currently affordable. In addition, they do not need servicing. On the contrary, buying an electric vehicle is an expensive option, not suitable for medium or long distance travel due to limited battery autonomy. Moreover, the lifetime of an electric vehicle is in the range of 10 years. As far as the environmental footprint is concerned, it seems positive at first sight, but this does not mean that electric vehicle batteries are innocent.

Diesel is a safe option for those who make relatively long journeys, it is more expensive than electrics but much cheaper than petrol. On the negative side, it is not the best choice for urban use, both because of environmental pollution and because of engine problems.

Petrol is a solid choice with its good and bad points. They are the vehicles we have lived with for over 50 years, and they are a safe choice. The main problem with this technology is its damaging environmental footprint.

As far as car rental companies are concerned, the transition to electrification is being met with caution at an initial level, since rental vehicles are mainly shared vehicles. On the other hand, the purchase costs are quite high compared to traditional vehicles, and their customers are still at an early stage of familiarisation with electrification.

For example, in areas such as Thesprotia, Igoumenitsa and Epirus in general, the transition to electrification for vehicle rental is currently difficult.

However, the general assessment is that with the popularisation of electromobility in the future, especially the companies car rental will be obliged to switch entirely to electric vehicles.