If you are a regular customer of car rental shops, you might be familiar with their electric vehicles. However, if you haven’t tried using one, you may have some concerns, questions, or misconceptions regarding its capabilities. Nevertheless, you might be looking for a valid reason to consider electric car rental in Singapore.
Given your prior condition, the most effective way to convince yourself to consider electric car rental is by learning about its advantages. If you know what benefits you can get out of it, the easier it becomes to rent an electric vehicle.
However, you also need to consider its disadvantages. There are no existing services that have zero downsides. Therefore, you must consider its downsides in addition to its benefits. Otherwise, you cannot expect to come to a solid decision if your basis is only its advantages.
Continue reading this article to know more about the pros and cons of electric car rental in Singapore.
Pros & Cons of Electric Car Rental in Singapore
I. Pros
1. Eco-Friendly Option
Since the advent of fuel-powered cars, society continues to rely on fossil fuels to power its vehicles. Unfortunately, although their benefits allowed plenty of individuals to get from one place to another at a fraction of the time it would take if they walked, carbon emissions of vehicles are one of the top contributing factors to global warming.
Fortunately, car manufacturers are making necessary steps towards achieving an eco-friendly means of transportation. One of the top benefits of using an electric car rental is it has fewer carbon emissions than vehicles that use fuel. This feature is crucial if you want to reduce your overall carbon footprint while still being able to travel to various destinations.
2. No Need to Worry About Expensive Fuel
With rising fuel costs, going for your usual daily car rental option in Singapore may not be as cheap as it was before. It doesn’t matter how efficient the vehicle is, since you would still need to head to a gas station to keep the engine running.
On the other hand, you can use public transport or book from apps, such as Grab, Comfort and Citygrab, and Easy Taxi. However, if you prefer driving a vehicle, you don’t have to worry about it since there is still a viable option available.
Getting an electric car rental allows you to get a reliable means of transportation without worrying about the rising fuel costs. All you would need to do is to take note of charging stations in your area and you’re good to go.
3. Access to User-Friendly Features
However, you might be wondering if you should be proficient in modern technology to handle electric vehicles. Fortunately, you would be glad to know that manufacturers are finding ways to make electric cars easy to operate. For example, some brands, such as Tesla, Ford, and Volkswagen, have voice-enabled features, allowing users to change various functions like audio and GPS.
Aside from voice commands, here are some examples of user-friendly features you can find in an electric car:
- Automatic wipers
- Park assist cameras
- Rapid charging
- Touch-screen displays
- Blind-spot monitoring system
4. Low Maintenance
Unlike fuel-powered vehicles that use internal combustion engines, going for an electric car rental requires less maintenance since they have fewer moving parts. Moreover, they only require coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid, which is far less than what others need. You don’t have to worry about which products you need to replenish or replace, meaning you also have fewer expenses to take into account.
II. Cons
1. Incompatible for Long Trips
Unfortunately, electric vehicles can’t reach long distances without needing to recharge. Comparing it to fuel-powered cars, the difference can be huge. This downside can be an issue for customers who often drive to far areas. Therefore, if your weekly routine involves travelling to various locations, going for a long term electric car lease in Singapore may not be the right choice. What you can do is either settle for fuel-powered vehicles or make adjustments to your schedule to ensure your EC is always fully charged.
2. Lack of Recharge Stations
Depending on your location, it might not be possible to go for an electric car rental if there are little to no recharge stations. Like fuel-powered vehicles, it is impractical to have one when there are no gas stations in your area.
Therefore, if the nearest recharge station is several kilometres away, it might not be ideal to choose an electric vehicle from a weekend car rental service in Singapore. Additionally, you also have to worry about whether the ones available in your area are compatible with it.
3. Vulnerable to Extreme Weather Conditions
Another disadvantage of using an electric car is its vulnerability to extreme weather. Unlike their fuel-powered counterparts, high and low temperatures can affect their battery life and increase their power consumption.
This downside makes electric car rental in Singapore not ideal when weather conditions are on the extreme side.
4. Charging Can Take a Long Time
Unlike fuel-powered vehicles, electric cars take hours to recharge, especially if running on low batteries. Although it won’t be an issue when you charge it overnight, it would become a problem if you run out while travelling to a work-related destination.
Fortunately, fast charging stations are available in numerous locations. These places could shorten recharge time to as little as 30 minutes. However, ensure that you know if they are available in your location. Otherwise, you might be in for a disappointment.
Conclusion
Going for an electric car rental in Singapore has its pros and cons. You might want to consider going for an EC instead of your usual choice if you’re a regular customer of rental companies. However, it is crucial to know the strengths and weaknesses of this mode of transportation. Otherwise, you might encounter issues you could have avoided.
Hopefully, these 8 details regarding electric cars should help you decide whether to rent one the next time you need a vehicle.
However, if you decide to go for your usual fuel-powered cars, consider checking out myCarriage. Learn more about their available vehicles from manufacturers, such as Kia, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and more. Additionally, they also offer Mercedes leasing in Singapore if you’re interested.