Thinking about buying an EV? Rent One by the Hour!

Electric vehicles (EV’s) are everywhere these days. In the news and online, we hear about EVs- how they are a great part of environmental initiatives, the new go-to due to rising gas prices, and how they’re cool and high tech. According to IEA online, “Sales of electric cars topped 2.1 million globally in 2019, surpassing 2018. Electric cars, which accounted for 2.6% of global car sales and about 1% of global car stock in 2019, registered a 40% year-on-year increase.” Everyone wants an EV, and within a few years, they prove less expensive than internal combustion engine vehicles, yet they still represent an expenditure for owners.

How much do EV’s cost?

Used electric vehicle prices can be found as low as $15,000, but new ones start around $38,000. The average price of an EV in late 2021 was $56,437. The sticker price does not however consider tax credits and rebates. Federal tax rebates are generally $7,500, and some states (including California!) and cities have their own rebates in addition.

Maintenance costs are lower for an EV than an internal combustion vehicle, but they still exist. ICE vehicles generally wear out with time and the odds that they’ll develop a problem increase the more you drive the car and the longer you own it. EVs are the opposite. Any problem with an EV becomes immediately apparent, therefore maintenance prices overall for the first few months of ownership can be higher for an EV than an ICEV, but often drop to zero within six months of ownerships. You will still want to schedule some regular car maintenance, coming to around $77 for three years.

What about gas? There’s no question electricity is less expensive than gas. A Consumer Reports study found EV owners spend about 60% less on charging than owners of ICE vehicles do on fuel. How much EV owners spent on charging depends on where they charge. Residential electricity rates are kept low. If drivers can charge up at home during non-peak hours, they can save a bundle over those who use public chargers, but even those who use mostly public chargers spend much less on electricity than on gas. Plan on around $25 per month.

Add onto that the price of car insurance, parking, and other fees, and any car can present a significant investment. If you are one of many people who want to own an EV, but the upfront costs might not be in the financial cards right now, or you’re not ready to take the plunge, you can still drive an EV. How? Renting an electric car sharing vehicle.

Why Buy an EV When You Can Rent One (at a low cost)?

Now you can rent an electric vehicle when you need one. Going to Ikea? Need to get to the doctor? Visit friends and family? Or just commute to work? There are many places we need to go that aren’t within walking or biking distance, and you need a car. But buying a car, even an EV, can present a significant financial investment.

Why not rent an electric vehicle and get where you need to go with no tailpipe emissions? BlueLA powered by Blink Mobility is proud to be a part of the Los Angeles community. Our all-electric car-sharing service began in 2018 when the City of Los Angeles was awarded a grant from the California Air Resources Board through California Climate Investments to pilot electric vehicle car-sharing in low-income communities of Los Angeles.

Anyone over 18 with a valid driver’s license can become a member of Blink Mobility. Low membership prices, and cents per minute use rates, make Blink Mobility accessible for everyone. Our standard membership fee is only $5/month, and community memberships for income qualified members is only $1/month.

Our fleet is made up entirely of reliable Chevy Bolts to get you where you need to go, with over 40 locations to pick up and drop off, across central L.A.

BlueLA powered by Blink Mobility, is a smarter, greener transportation option in Los Angeles, improving the community and environment one ride at a time. BlueLA powered by Blink Mobility car sharing provides members with new, fully-electric vehicles for their everyday needs. Clean and convenient EVs can be picked up and dropped off easily, making the need for your own car the old way of getting around.

Want to drive an EV but you’re not ready to purchase one yet or simply don’t want to deal with all that comes with owning a vehicle? Download the app and become a BlueLA powered by Blink Mobility member today to rent an electric vehicle.