We’re glad you’ve chosen to rent an electric vehicle (EV) with SIXT. We boast Australia’s largest range of EVs for hire and want our customers to make the most of their rental. EVs can feel slightly foreign at first and drive a bit differently to most petrol-powered vehicles, but they are fun, responsive and great for the environment.
Let’s run through the basics so you can be as familiar as possible with your EV.
We recommend customers download a quick start guide for their vehicle. These guides explain the basics for our fleet of EVs so you can unlock, start, drive and charge the electric vehicle with confidence. Click on the EV model below to download a guide.
BYD ATTO 3
Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model Y
BMW iX3
Before driving
Most EVs come with a key fob similar to any other car. There will be a lock and unlock button on the fob. Teslas come with a keycard which needs to be swiped/tapped on the black driver’s side window pillar. You will see an imprint where to tap your Tesla keycard.
Place your keycard or fob in a secure place near the centre console. Most EVs will have a start/stop button, although a Tesla operates differently and drivers simply need to tap the brake pedal to start the vehicle.
Make sure you’ve released the parking brake or vehicle hold function before putting the vehicle into drive or reverse. These functions will either be on the centre console or on the stalk from the steering column depending on the EV you’re operating.
While driving
EVs tend to have less buttons and clutter about the cabin and most functions you’ll need can be found in the vehicle’s infotainment screen. Here you’ll find air conditioning, radio and/or smart phone options along with other configurable options.
Important vehicle alerts such as speed and charge can either be seen on this same screen or similar to a traditional set up behind the steering wheel.
The feel of an electric vehicle differs from petrol vehicles. The lack of engine noise can be odd at first, but quickly becomes comforting. The most noticeable difference comes in how EVs brake, and drivers will generally find themselves not needing to use the brake pedal as frequently as they’re used to. When taking your foot off the accelerator the vehicle drops pace quickly, but this is fast to adjust to and many models allow the driver to set how rapid the deceleration is.
It is worth noting that spirited driving, use of air conditioning and changing of driving modes can impact your EV’s battery range.
Leaving the car
Park your EV just as you would any other vehicle, but remember to apply the parking brake. This is frequently a button on the centre console, although Tesla models require a tap of the ‘P’ button on the end of the steering wheel stalk. A light will show on the infotainment screen to alert the driver that the parking brake is activated.
Lock the vehicle using the key fob, or if driving a Tesla tap the key card on the window pillar the same way you would to enter the vehicle.
Charging an electric vehicle
EVs are simple to charge and there are very few differences between manufacturers and models. There are generally two ports for either a slow/fast charge (AC) or a rapid charge (DC). The charger you stop at will dictate which port to use and if you require any accessories – these will be provided to you.
Follow the below steps:
- Open the charge port by tapping on the charge port cover the same way you would a petrol cap. Some vehicles also off the option to open the cap from the infotainment screen.
- Open the AC or DC cap depending which charger you use.
- Firmly plug the charge connector into the charge port. All vehicles will have a light which shows that charging has begun. You can also check the charge level from the instrument cluster inside the EV.
If you lock your car the charger cannot be removed and will stay charging until you unlock the car and remove the charger. - Charging is complete when the charge light changes colour, or you can check the charge level inside your EV.
Note: A red light means the charger isn’t operating.
Chargefox
All SIXT Australia customers get free electric vehicle charging with Chargefox. Your vehicle will come with a Chargefox card or fob which can only be used at Chargefox locations.
The card or fob is already linked to a SIXT Chargefox account, so all you need to do is follow the instructions on the charger, tap/swipe at the location, and plug in the charger to begin charging your vehicle.
A full list of available Chargefox locations can be found on the app downloadable from the website.
Available chargers for your electric vehicle
Use the below module from Plugshare to find all available chargers in your area.
