by Simon Rose
Electric cars have been a topic of discussion for quite a while now, but they always seemed to be one of those things that were on the horizon, something we’d see in the future, without ever having a firm date. As target dates for cutting emissions that pollute the planet come ever closer, as real commitments are promised to eliminate fossil fuel use in the coming decades, battery-powered cars seem no closer to becoming the norm. There is talk about how much power these types of vehicles can store in their batteries. How can we ensure we will be able to travel the same distances as cars we currently drive?
People also comment on how infrastructure needs to be built for chargers in countries around the world, some of which have better developed electrical power networks than others. Many prominent inventions of the past seemed as if they would have too many issues, or that they’d never catch on. But then they did. Think of those early portable phones and how bulky they were, yet now we have the seemingly indispensable cell phone that is carried everywhere by almost everyone. Power issues for mobile electric devices, including vehicles, have often been the primary factor as new technology emerges. Serious problems have usually been solved over time. With the effects of climate change becoming ever more apparent and governments around the world beginning to set emissions targets and dates for banning the sale of gasoline and diesel vehicles, investors are carefully looking at the prospect of electric car sales. Companies have been involved in electric car development for quite some time, but this has still never provided a clear indication that these types of vehicles will replace the ones we currently use to get around. However, a bold new era in transportation may finally be about to embark.
One company in particular could be deemed as the primary electric car pioneer. Tesla. Tesla’s Model 3 recently became the first battery-powered electric car to be a top seller in Europe. Tesla saw its market value exceed one trillion dollars in October 2021. Only a few companies have reached this milestone, including Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Facebook, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Tesla reported record sales in the third quarter of 2021, despite the shortage of computer chips worldwide, a negative effect on the automotive industry as a whole. Hertz recently ordered 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla for its rental fleet, which should all be delivered by late 2022, and Hertz already has the Tesla Model 3 available for rent in key US and European markets.
If you rent a Tesla vehicle from Hertz, you’ll have access to Tesla’s extensive network of chargers located across North America and Europe. Hertz also plans to add thousands of chargers of its own at rental vehicle locations. More and more people now say that they’d consider purchasing an electric vehicle. The trend is likely to continue, electric vehicles are quickly becoming more widely available. After all, the basic idea behind the car, such as the vehicle body, seats, wheels, suspension, brakes, and other features remain the same. It’s the means of moving the car around that is different, and many could agree that electric-powered vehicles are much better for the health of our planet. Maybe electric cars are finally ready to roll.