Hiring an electric car for the first time in France was an exciting adventure. Though it came with a few learning curves, we feel more committed than ever to electric vehicles (EVs) and would definitely do it again. Hiring an electric vehicle didn’t just make our trip more eco-friendly; it was cost-effective too. Indeed, the price was the same as hiring a petrol car, but we saved a lot on fuel costs. We drove over 730 km in four days in Alsace and paid only €42 for charging. In comparison, petrol would have cost us far more (115€ for our estimation), with petrol prices being so high.
Here are my top tips to rent an electric car in France based on what we learnt and why we’re excited to do it again.
Choosing the right electric car to rent in France
We knew we’d be driving a lot while in Alsace, so we went for a bigger model (Tesla Model 3 at Europcar), as it has an excellent battery range. You don’t want to hire a small EV better suited for trips around the city if you know you’ll drive long distances. You’d waste time charging it often, which could be a stressful experience, especially if it’s your first time.
One standout feature of the Tesla was the panoramic roof, which made scenic drives even more enjoyable. The heated seats were a nice touch, too – definitely appreciated on late-night drives!
Driving tips for your first electric car hire
Eco-driving tip
Electric cars are powerful, so it’s tempting to accelerate suddenly. Smooth, gradual driving will help you save battery range and make the ride more comfortable.
Acceleration and braking modes
Many EVs have different settings for acceleration and regenerative braking, including braking when you lift your foot off the accelerator. The feeling can be surprising the first time, so it’s worth trying these modes in a safe spot before starting your trip.
Plan for quieter driving
EVs are much quieter than petrol cars, so you might not hear much engine noise. This is great for enjoying the scenery, but be extra mindful of pedestrians and cyclists who might not hear you coming, especially in small villages or car parks.
Be mindful of range in hilly areas
Steep climbs can drain the battery faster, but regenerative braking on the way down can help recover some range. Keep an eye on your battery percentage in mountainous or hilly regions so you’re not caught off guard.
Charging made simple: our approach during our trip
Our biggest initial worry was about charging the car, but once we settled into a rhythm, it became second nature. Here’s how we approached it:
- Charging at destinations: Instead of taking breaks just to charge, we made charging a seamless part of our itinerary. We used slower chargers during our stops, topping up the car while we explored. This approach allowed us to fit charging naturally into our sightseeing schedule without wasting time. We had no trouble finding available chargers in larger cities like Strasbourg and Colmar. There were charging options even in smaller villages like Andlau, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, and Cleebourg, to name only a few. We were travelling during the off-season and never had an issue with charger availability.
- Charging while running errands: Another handy strategy was topping up the car while grocery shopping. Many supermarkets had faster chargers, so we could get a good boost while handling errands. This approach saved us from having to make special charging stops.
- Hotel planning: One tip that really helped was making sure our hotel had a charger within walking distance (about 150m in our case). This way, we could recharge the car overnight or during breakfast. You can’t leave the car on the charger once it’s full (or you risk paying more), so we had to organise our time to move the vehicle once the charging was done. Though slightly inconvenient, we only needed to do this once. Try to book hotels with chargers nearby, or at least a short walk away, to make overnight or early morning charges easier.
Handy charging habits when renting an electric car in France
Use an app
We relied on an app called Freshmile, which made finding charging stations easy. It provided information on the type of charger, speed, and fees, helping us make informed decisions and plan our charging stops efficiently. We simply opened an account online, downloaded the app, transferred money to the app wallet, and could use the charger immediately. After our trip, we emailed them to close our account, and they seamlessly refunded us the unused money.
Don’t hesitate to call the hotline
If you encounter any issues with a charger, don’t waste time trying to understand what is going wrong – call the support hotline right away. We had an experience where a charger wouldn’t start, and we were able to speak to someone immediately who reset the charger remotely. Although it didn’t resolve the issue, the support team quickly pointed us to a nearby charger that worked perfectly, saving us from wondering if the problem was on our end. They’re there to help, so take advantage of it!
Add an extra step to planning your day
Checking charging stations to plan our routes quickly became part of the adventure. It was necessary as we visited rural areas where chargers may be less frequent. Often, it was just a matter of choosing one car park over another or adjusting the order of our stops, like spending more time at a destination or having lunch where we could maximise charging time.
Set a timer
If you’re concerned about paying extra for overstaying once your car is fully charged, set a timer on your phone. This way, you won’t have to constantly check the time or worry about running over. It’s just like managing limited parking time – simple and stress-free.
Check your car’s charging settings
Our car was initially set to charge only up to 80%, which is a common recommendation since EVs charge faster up to this point, while charging from 80% to 100% can take significantly longer and may cost more. However, there are situations where it’s worth going over 80%, like before your final charge if you need to drive a bit to return the car with a high battery level or if your itinerary requires the extra range. Once we realised the 80% limit was in place, it was easy to adjust the setting to allow for a full charge when needed.
Watch out for that final charge
One tricky part was returning the car. Europcar required us to return it with at least 80% battery or face a hefty fee. As we didn’t stay near the rental location on our last night, this required some planning. We could have saved time by finding a fast charger on our way back, but we opted for a slower charger, which ate up a bit of time. Lesson learnt for next time!
Have you ever hired an electric car in France? Share your experience in the comments below!
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