Demand for electric rental cars is falling: holidaymakers are choosing the simpler option after all
As the share of electric cars in the European market grows, the opposite trend is happening with car rental. New research from Sunny Cars shows that German holidaymakers are becoming increasingly wary of electric vehicles, primarily due to charging and unfamiliar infrastructure.
Only 44 percent of respondents can imagine hiring an electric car on holiday. Five years ago, that share stood at 50 percent. The research was conducted by NIT – Institute for Tourism and Bäder Research in Northern Europe, combining the representative Reiseanalyse 2026 with additional research of car rental users.
The problem isn't necessarily the car, but the user experience
The most interesting fact for car hire companies relates to charging. As many as 79 percent of potential users want to receive an advance overview of charging stations along their planned route. A third consider an available contact in case of problems to be important, while 23 percent want additional instructions for using an electric vehicle.
At the same time, Sunny Cars states that the actual number of electric vehicle bookings is significantly lower than the stated interest. The company sees the charging infrastructure, vehicle return rules and the uncertainty of customers who do not normally drive an electric car as the main obstacles.
This especially comes to the fore on holiday. Almost half of the respondents are visiting the destination for the first time, so they are unfamiliar with local distances, traffic and the charging network. Car hireand is most often chosen precisely because of its flexibility and the opportunity for spontaneous exploration of the destination.
Electric cars are on the rise, but the tourist context changes the decision.
The trend is interesting because it does not align with the development of the car market. Battery electric vehicles accounted for 20.7 percent of new car registrations in the EU in the first half of 2026, compared to 15.6 percent the previous year. In other words, the adoption of electric vehicles is growing, but the tourist wants as few unknowns as possible during the journey.
For Croatia and other Adriatic destinations, the message is not necessarily that fleet electrification should be slowed down. The problem is the way the product is sold.
Along with an electric car, it is necessary to provide simple information about charging stations, payment methods, the expected battery state upon return and support during the rental. Without this, many travellers, especially those planning trips and longer routes, will continue to choose a petrol or hybrid car.
