Pickup/Drop Off
– On Turo, delivery fee is round trip and includes both pickup & return to a single location only. If you wish to drop off at a different location from pickup, you will need to add the extra “one-way trip” to your trip for $25 and message us the second address.
– Typically we deliver the night before.
– For airports, standard delivery included in the fee is to & from the cheapest on-site parking available. The cost of the parking ticket to exit the lot when you pick up is not included, but we cover the cost of the ticket when you return the vehicle.
– On Turo, to airports only, you can upgrade your parking to the premium parking lots (round trip) by adding the extra called “portable speaker” for $40. Be sure to message us the terminals you will arrive and leave from, or give us your flight info and we will figure it out.
– On Turo, if you wish delivery to your home or other non-preset location that is more than 25mi from Fremont, CA but less than 50mi, set your trip to our home location in Fremont and add the extra called “portable gps” for $80 round trip. Be sure to message us the address you’re wanting to take delivery at.
– Delivery fee only includes our cost to deliver up to the start time of your trip, and 24 hours paid parking after your trip at airports and train stations only. Any required parking at other locations, and at the beginning of your trip will be your responsibility.
– We will send directions to the vehicle’s exact location at least 1 hour before trip starts (all locations) unless otherwise communicated.
– Car will be delivered with at least 70% charge, and can be returned with at least 70% (regardless beginning charge level) with no fee.
– We offer prepaid recharging which allows you to return the vehicle with as low as 30 miles left (note that any less is subject to a $50 fee).
EV Charging Introduction
– Battery percentage is also referred to as state of charge (SoC).
– Typical operating range is 80% – 10% SoC.
– Chargers come in 3 types with speed based on power, rated in kilowatts (kW).
– Higher kW = faster charge rate.
– Level 1 is slowest, using any standard wall outlet (3 prong 110v, ~2kW charging rate, +5mi/hr).
– Level 2 uses heavy duty appliance outlets & is commericially available too (4 prong 220v, ~6kW charging rate, +22mi/hr).
– Level 3 is DC fast-charging, only commercially available (440v-880v, 50kW-350kW charging rates, +180-480mi/hr).
– Commercial Level 3 charging networks in the Bay Area are Tesla (limited to Teslas only), Electrify America (most highest speed non-Tesla chargers), EVGo (most non-Tesla DC fast chargers often at lower speeds), and a few Blink, Volta, and Chargepoint chargers (though Chargepoint has a very robust Level 2 charging network).
– Once charging stops at a public charging station, you have a short grace period (5-10 minutes) before you get charged idle fees too. – There is a charging cable stored in the trunk (typically under the floor boards) capable of level 1 & 2 charging for long-term & overnight charging.
– EVs are typically internet connected and their native navigation system can be used to find nearby chargers.
– Charging rates drop drastically above 80% as a safety measure so it is very inefficient and should only be done for road trips.
– DO NOT LET EV BATTERIES GO TO 0%. This will ruin them and you will be responsible for their replacement (can cost $10,000+).
– It is not good for long term battery health to leave an EV at 100% SoC for extended periods of time.
Charging Specifics
Tesla
– The Tesla supercharger network is very robust and typically best for your travel.
– Navigating using the car’s onboard system plans charging for you and has a searchable map for nearby superchargers (with filters for the very fast ones).
– EVGo’s network/app also offers some Tesla chargers around the Bay at cheaper prices but slower speeds. – While supplies are available, we keep 2 adapters in the car in the compartment in front of the cup holder for charging with non-Tesla chargers (underneath the sliding velvet tray).
– The small adapter is for Type 1 & 2 non-Tesla chargers only (please be sure to remove the adapter from the car and plug end and place back in the compartment when done).
– The larger adapter is for Type 3 non-Tesla (CCS) chargers only. Please attach to the CCS cable before inserting into the Tesla. If the station fails to communicate with the Tesla or stops charging within 3 minutes multiple times, try another cable/station as it may not have the necessary firmware (please be sure to remove the adapter from the car and plug end and place back in the compartment when done). Discontinued, we no longer make this style of adapter available. – Higher is better for fast charging, and Tesla superchargers peak at 250kW.
Non-Tesla
– All our non-Tesla EVs use CCS Combo for Level 3 DC fast charging.
– There is a protective insert or flap on the bottom half of the chargeport that will need to be removed to allow you to use the CCS Combo plug.
– Currently, non-Tesla EV charging at Tesla superchargers is exceptionally rare and only offered in a few remote locations across the entire US, so do not attempt to charge a non-Tesla using the Tesla network.
– We recommend Electrify America because it has the most chargers at 150kW and 350kW ratings.
– EVGo also offers these, but has a wider network of 50kW, 80kW, and 100kW chargers which will charge much slower.
– Most EVs aren’t capable of making full use of the 350kW charging standard, so on these chargers you may get similar speeds as the 150kW chargers.
– Electrify America fast chargers typically have 2 CCS Combo cables per station for redundancy only.
– Though you cannot charge multiple vehicles on the same Electrify America charging station simultaneously, if you are having charging errors or unusually slow charging rates, try the redundant plug first, then another station if available.
– EVGo stations often support simultaneous charging at a single station, but usually for cars of different plug types (Tesla & CCS Combo on the same station for example).
– Each charging network has its own app, and it is best to use their app as it will detail charger availability, locations of chargers in the area, and link directions to Google & Apple maps.
– Starting charging sessions is most reliable through the apps as well: plug in vehicle, take note of the station id (Electrify America does charger numbers, EVGo does names), and activate in app or tap a credit card on the station’s reader to pay.
– Sometimes stations have regular poor performance but aren’t captured in the app or on the station. A community reporting app called PlugShare can provide additional insight into a charging station with members noting the unusally slow ones, or ones known not to work but the network hasn’t taken the charger down for maintenance.
Damages
– No smoking in the car.
– We unfortunately do not allow pets in all our cars except for the Chevy Bolt EUV and Volkswagen ID.4 PRO only, with an additional $50 fee.
– You are not responsible for basic cleaning of the car – this is included, but stains, spills, and other excessive/unreasonable dirt (inside or out) are not covered.
– You are responsible for all damage to the vehicle regardless of fault.
– Your insurance may cover you while renting a vehicle, as may your credit card, however it is your responsibility to confirm this.
– All direct rentals will need to provide proof of insurance prior to your trip.
– In the event of damage to a vehicle, if you are found at fault, you are additionally responsible for inherent diminished value in the vehicle (accident stigma) charged directly to insurance, and loss of rental income during repairs.
Tolls
– The cars all have a white FastTrak transponder for bridge tolls and express lane fees,
typically on the windshield above the driver.
– Set it to the transponder to the number of occupants in the car every trip.
– We will invoice you after your trip for all tolls (note tolls sometimes take up to 4 weeks
to post if the transponder fails and it goes by license plate).