Should I rent a Tesla Model 3 as a holiday car in Spain?

[bobsavage789]

As per the title really…

I’ve never had or even driven an EV, so am fairly ignorant about a lot of it.

Main concerns:
1) the villa we’re renting (Andalusia, S. Spain) has a charger, but I don’t know if it’ll fit the Tesla: are chargers more or less universal?
2) Hertz (hire company) say that the charging cable that would come with the car “could include” EV to charging station (mode 3; 11kw) or EV to domestic (mode 2; 3kw): I don’t think the villa has an accessible outdoor domestic power socket, so the wrong cable could be disastrous. Would a typical domestic charger cater for a domestic-type plug?
3) is there enough luggage space? I’ve read different capacities from different sources. Will we be able to fit 3 large cases and a pram in there?

Reasons to get one over an ICE car:

1) same price as the cheapest suitable ICE alternative, yet faster (I know…)
2) cheaper to “fuel” than ICE car.
3) curiosity: I’ve never driven an EV or a Tesla, and am keen to find out if one would suit my/our lifestyle.

Key questions:
1) how likely is charging at the villa going to be possible?
2) has anyone rented an EV from Hertz before? Any cable/other issues?
3) does a Model 3 have enough luggage capacity?


Gracias in advance for any advice.

[MightyBadger]

Sounds like a great way to ruin a nice holiday

[Merry]

bobsavage789 said:

As per the title really…
.

Main concerns:
1) the villa we’re renting (Andalusia, S. Spain) has a charger, but I don’t know if it’ll fit the Tesla: are chargers more or less universal?
2) Hertz (hire company) say that the charging cable that would come with the car “could include” EV to charging station (mode 3; 11kw) or EV to domestic (mode 2; 3kw): I don’t think the villa has an accessible outdoor domestic power socket, so the wrong cable could be disastrous. Would a typical domestic charger cater for a domestic-type plug?
3) is there enough luggage space? I’ve read different capacities from different sources. Will we be able to fit 3 large cases and a pram in there?

1) Probably, if it's an untethered charger you just use the cable that comes with the car. The only way this charger won't be compatible if its an old tethered type 1 charger.

2)It'll come with a type 2 cable that you'll probably use with the charger at the villa, the other charger is likely to be one with a domestic plug on the end.

3)How big are the cases and the pram? A Model 3 has loads of space, there's a large area under the boot floor as well as a bit in the front too, but square larger solid shell cases might not make best use of the space. Likewise if the pram is just a lightweight stroller type then yeah, if it's one of these massive new born thrones not so much. Have a look at some pics online and work it out with what you've got.

I'd recommend you double check what charger is at the vila and the luggage situation, but if both of those things are fine and you're not doing moon milage it'll probably work quite well.

[Hill92]

1) Europe/UK (and Tesla Model 3 in Europe) uses the Type 2 (CCS2) connector as standard. If the villa is fitted with an AC mode 3 11kw external EV charger (which, if they are advertising it as having an EV charger, it almost certainly is) then it will look like the top half of the charger plug seen on the right here: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_2_connector

The villa charger may have a tethered cable fitte, in which case you just plug that cable into the car. Otherwise you just use the untethered cable that comes with the car and plug that into the charger and the car (the car end of the cable usually has a cap to protect it when it in use).

You'll also encounter the full CCS2 plug (on the left) at DC fast chargers, which you just plug into the car as normal.

You open the charging flap (by rear left light cluster) from the screen or touching the flap. It'll close itself when not in use. The cable will be locked at the car end so you'll need to unlock the charging port from the screen in the car (usually no lock on the charger end if untethered).

2) Not rented one before. Looks like they issue you with the plastic keycard. You tap this against the B pillar to get in and then put it on the console to start the car. Not sure if you'll be able to use the Tesla app with the car or not (walk away lock, driver profile, unlock car/charging port, turn on heater/AC remotely etc).

Make sure to check the cables are actually in the hire car when you collect it! There's a large storage space under the trunk floor - check what is in there before you put your bags/pram in! Likewise check what's in the frunk before you drive off (frunk pops opens from the screen and needs to be manually opened/closed. Trunk opens from the boot door or screen and automatically opens/closes).

Tesla have familiarisation videos here which are helpful: https://www.tesla.com/en_GB/support/model-3-videos

3) The trunk feels large for the car's size. It's a saloon so it is low relative to a hatchback. Depending on size of your bags and pram, it could accommodate all three. There's also lots of storage below the trunk and in the frunk - albeit more for holdalls, carry on bags and shopping than for large suitcases.

[Austin_Metro]

I was offered a Tesla model 3 cheaper than an equivalent ICE car in the south of France last year. I didn’t go for it as I didn’t know what the villa had by way of charging.

Also, do you have to return them with a full battery of electricity?

[bobsavage789]

Many thanks for the helpful replies so far: I’m already learning a lot.

To clarify a few points raised:

- the luggage will be large holdalls (rather than hard shell cases, so there’s some flexibility in terms of fitting particular boot shapes.
- the pram is a jazzy foldable one, designed to fit in to overhead lockers on planes, so won’t take up much space.
- I’ve asked the villa agent for more details about the charger: she doesn’t seem to know much, but has said she’ll send me a photo thereof when she gets a moment. This is Spain, however, so heck knows how long that’ll take!

[TheRainMaker]

If you can charge at the villa, it's a no-brainer IMO.

However, if you can't, it's hard enough using chargers over here sometimes. It would be 30x harder trying to get one to work in Spanish

[shirt]

Curiosity is enough of a reason imo.

I rented a few ev’s last year in the Netherlands, all via sixt. The hire desk were very helpful including setting up apps for me to use 3rd party chargers. Bit of a difference to Spain though, they’re literally everywhere in NL and both my hotel and work location had a rank of them outside. They offered to show me how to connect the cables before I set off which I declined as I like to think I’m capable of working that out myself, which wasn’t difficult!

So yes, check the villa charger and luggage requirements work for you and then go for it. I’m not in the market for an EV but was nice to sample them in case that changes at some point in the future.

[Snow and Rocks]

While all of the above are useful/relevant points, the most important consideration in my view is how far the villa is from the airport and what you're planning on doing when you're there?

If the distances involved are fairly modest and you fancy trying an EV, go for it. If you're covering a lot of ground and you just want a hassle free holiday then I'd stick to an ICE or hybrid. The cost of fuel is likely insignificant compared to everything else and I really can't be bothered faffing about with public chargers on holiday.

[andy43]

Have a look on the Tesla website for their Destination Charger map.
Hotels, marinas, shopping centres have them. As a customer of the business you can charge for free.
We’ve charged in Lagos marina in Portugal for free several times at (iirc) 22kw.
Turn up, plug in and that’s it. No apps or payments.

[bobsavage789]

All rendered moot now: they seem to have run out of Teslas for the days I need.

For the same price, I’ve now booked….

…a Vauxhall/Opel Mokka (whatever one of those is…)

[Grapevine226]

There seem to be a lot of superchargers in the region so should should be fairly well served.

[shirt]

bobsavage789 said:

All rendered moot now: they seem to have run out of Teslas for the days I need.

For the same price, I’ve now booked….

…a Vauxhall/Opel Mokka (whatever one of those is…)

A mokka, with ‘3 large cases and a pram’?

Good luck with that.

[raspy]

bobsavage789 said:

All rendered moot now: they seem to have run out of Teslas for the days I need.

For the same price, I’ve now booked….

…a Vauxhall/Opel Mokka (whatever one of those is…)

Hope it comes with a giant roofbox for all your stuff. Apart from the front seats, those cars are cramped for space.

[bobsavage789]

I’m not hearing much love for the Mokka (it is a horrendous shopping trolley for the sort of people who have “powered by fairy dust” stickers on the back).

For what it’s worth, we had the same “category” of hire car last year and it was absolutely fine: the pram and luggage are in there only for the journeys to and from the airport.

Another (very slightly cheaper) option is a Polestar 2: any thoughts on that? Research suggests it’s slower and less practical than the Tesla, but would potentially satisfy my EV curiosity if I can cancel the Mokka…

[Merry]

bobsavage789 said:

Another (very slightly cheaper) option is a Polestar 2: any thoughts on that? Research suggests it’s slower and less practical than the Tesla, but would potentially satisfy my EV curiosity if I can cancel the Mokka…

While I don't think they have a front boot, they are a hatch, so might be much over muchness space wise compared to a Tesla.

Hell of a lot more car than a Mokka...

[bobsavage789]

MrGTI6 said:

MightyBadger said:

Sounds like a great way to ruin a nice holiday

My thoughts exactly. Why would you consider subjecting yourself to this while on holiday!?

Go on, I’ll bite: what specific problems do you foresee?

[survivalist]

bobsavage789 said:

MrGTI6 said:

MightyBadger said:

Sounds like a great way to ruin a nice holiday

My thoughts exactly. Why would you consider subjecting yourself to this while on holiday!?

Go on, I’ll bite: what specific problems do you foresee?

Depends on how much effort you want to put into fuelling your transport.

If you can charge at a decent rate at the hotel / villa you are staying at then it has the potential to be seamless.

If you’re having to find and use public chargers then , personally, I wouldn’t bother.

Did a big family holiday last year where a couple of people hired EVs. Only granny charging at the villa meant that on the days where we did big trips one family decided it was easier to grab a lift with the ICE cars. My brother did use public charging but factoring in the time to drive there and back and charge, that’s over an hour to ‘fill up’.

If there was no chance of charging at the villa then it would have been an even bigger pain in the ass.

Doing the same trip this Easter and no one is hiring an EV.

[Nomme de Plum]

bobsavage789 said:

MrGTI6 said:

MightyBadger said:

Sounds like a great way to ruin a nice holiday

My thoughts exactly. Why would you consider subjecting yourself to this while on holiday!?

Go on, I’ll bite: what specific problems do you foresee?

I've hired a Taycan and a Enyak on separate occasions. I suppose it depends how much remote exploring you wish to do. I did not find it at problem at all but I think some people like to see problems where none exist., It's just their nature. If you have charging availability where you're staying it really should not be a problem at all. It's also a good way of experiencing an EV.

[bobsavage789]

Well this is turning into quite the exciting thread…

Following some more in-depth research (and an unnecessarily lengthy conversation with someone at Hertz), I’ve swapped the Mokka for a Polestar 2.