Treating EVs Like Conventional Cars Nearly Sank Hertz, Analysis Says

A recent CleanTechnica analysis takes aim at the common assumption that an electric vehicle is essentially the same as a conventional car. The author argues that this line of thinking—"you get in, start it up, and go"—ignores the fundamental differences in how EVs must be managed, and that such complacency can have severe business consequences.

The article specifically cites the near-failure of Hertz as a cautionary tale. Its owners, described as "a couple of B School whiz kids with more money than brains," reportedly made decisions based on the flawed premise that EVs could be run just like a traditional rental fleet. The piece suggests that this oversight, rather than any inherent fault of the cars themselves, was a key factor in the company's troubles.

Because the source is a single opinion-driven analysis, the claims are presented as the author's interpretation rather than established fact. Still, the underlying warning is clear: fleet operators and buyers alike cannot treat EVs as drop-in replacements without accounting for their unique charging, maintenance, and resale dynamics.