Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind

Electric vehicles tend to provoke strong opinions.

Some people swear by them. Others swear at them. Most of the conversation revolves around what EVs represent — environmentally, politically, culturally.

In practice, though, renting and driving an EV on a trip is far less ideological than people expect. Day to day, the differences between an electric vehicle and a gas-powered one usually come down to comfort, convenience, and how much mental space they demand from you while you’re already juggling travel logistics.

That gap between perception and reality is where most of the confusion lives.

How I Came to This View

I didn’t arrive at this opinion all at once.

Over the past few years, I’ve been handed a mix of electric rentals — Hyundais, a Mercedes or two, and, more often than not, Teslas. Most of those trips were short business overnights where charging never entered the equation at all.

Only once did I rent an EV for a longer drive that required stopping to recharge along the way. That experience mattered — not because it was dramatic, but because it was unremarkable in the best possible way.

That’s when EVs stopped feeling like a novelty and started feeling like just another way to get from place to place.

Quiet Changes Everything

The first time I drove an electric vehicle, it was a calm spring day.

I opened the door, rolled down the window to let some heat escape, and “started” the car. Nothing happened. No sound. No vibration. I checked again to make sure it was actually on.

It was.

Pulling out of the garage, the only noise I heard was the faint squeak of tires on painted concrete. For the first few seconds it felt strange — then it felt serene.

At highway speeds, you still hear road noise. Tires still hum. But the absence of engine vibration changes the cognitive load of driving in a subtle way. You’re more likely to hear other cars than your own. After a long day of travel or meetings, that quiet creates space to decompress before you even reach the hotel.

It’s a small shift, but it adds up.

Acceleration Isn’t About Speed

The most obvious difference between EVs and gas cars is acceleration.

Electric motors deliver torque immediately, which means even entry-level EVs tend to accelerate faster than most cars on the road. The novelty of beating sports cars off the line wears off quickly — but the practical benefit doesn’t.

Acceleration becomes a safety margin.

Merging onto highways is easier. Passing indecisive drivers is quicker. If someone decides to make a poor choice at exactly the wrong moment, you suddenly have more options than you would in a sluggish rental sedan.

It’s not about driving fast. It’s about driving decisively.

Charging Is a Different Kind of Stop

Refueling an EV doesn’t look like refueling a gas car — and that difference throws people off.

There’s no standing in the cold gripping a pump, wondering when gas stations collectively decided the auto-hold latch was a liability. You plug in, and then you move on with your life.

In practice, that usually means:

• Using the restroom
• Grabbing a coffee
• Stretching your legs
• Checking email
• Or just sitting quietly for a few minutes

On fast chargers, especially Tesla Superchargers, the car is often ready to go by the time you are. It may not be at 100%, but it doesn’t need to be. You’re back on the road with enough range to keep moving.

Whether that feels like a hassle or a relief depends largely on how you already travel.

What’s Worth Knowing Before You Rent One

Not all EV rentals are created equal, and a little advance awareness goes a long way.

Here are the things I now check — quietly, without making a production of it.

Charging Networks

Some rental companies have agreements with charging networks. In certain cases, you simply plug in and walk away — the charge gets added to your rental bill automatically. No apps, no credit cards, no new accounts.

It’s worth asking at the counter.

Ports & Adapters

EVs are in an awkward adolescence right now.

Most newer vehicles are moving toward the NACS standard (Tesla’s connector), while others still use J1772 or CCS. Many cars include adapters, but not all rental agencies keep them matched correctly.

A quick glance in the trunk before you leave can save confusion later.

Hotel Charging

Hotel chargers aren’t required — but they’re a quiet luxury. Waking up to a full battery without thinking about it is one of those conveniences you don’t miss until you’ve had it.

Misconceptions I Hear Often

Range Anxiety

Unless you’re planning long, rural drives far from major highways, range anxiety tends to be louder in theory than in practice.

Charging infrastructure isn’t perfect, but it’s good enough for most common travel patterns — especially if you stick to vehicles with access to robust fast-charging networks.

Endless Charging Stops

Charging doesn’t usually mean waiting 45 minutes doing nothing. More often, it means the car is ready before you are, and will have 200+ miles’ worth of power to get you down the road.

It won’t be full, but it will have enough for a good three or four hours behind the wheel. For me, that’s plenty enough that I’m ready for a stop anyway — for bladder, tailbone, or both.

Poor Handling

Those heavy batteries sit low in the chassis, which gives EVs a surprisingly low center of gravity. The result is solid grip, stable handling, and a car that’s very hard to unsettle unless conditions are extreme.

Making the Decision Easier

I’ve learned to keep this simple.

• If you don’t expect to drive more than 100 miles and the battery is reasonably charged when you pick it up, renting an EV can be a low-effort way to try one without committing.
• If you’re planning a longer road trip, vehicles with access to reliable fast-charging networks — particularly Teslas — offer the most seamless experience.
• If you love the smell of gasoline and the rumble of an engine, there’s no moral failing in renting the Corvette instead. Just don’t be surprised if the quiet little EV beats you off the line.

Roamwell’s Note

Travel already asks a lot of your attention. When a rental car quietly asks for less — less noise, less vibration, less fuss — it changes how you arrive, not just where.

And sometimes, that’s reason enough to try something different.

— Roamwell