Here, the local car sharing service had two plans. The first was pick and and drop off wherever you want cars, the second pick up and return cars. The former were electric, the latter gas powered.
The electric cars were never powered up. Even when parked beside a charger, people simply wouldn't plug them in. When they did, the cars would charge for lengthy periods of time, and hence be unavailable. Gas won.
Despite eletric being half the cost, and more covenient as a one way option, people chose to willingly pay more, and use gas.
Today, the same system is gas only. Electric isn't suitable for this use case.
When I return a gas powered hire car, I'm required to return it with the same amount of fuel as I picked it up with. I sign a contract that states I'll be charged a higher-than-pump price to top up the car if I breach this requirement.
Does the same (or an equivalent, eg: Plug it in to charge upon return) requirement not apply to electric cars?
The electric cars were never powered up. Even when parked beside a charger, people simply wouldn't plug them in. When they did, the cars would charge for lengthy periods of time, and hence be unavailable. Gas won.
Despite eletric being half the cost, and more covenient as a one way option, people chose to willingly pay more, and use gas.
Today, the same system is gas only. Electric isn't suitable for this use case.