Renting an EV in Miami: charging, range and the honest trade-offs
Thinking about a Tesla for your trip? What range looks like with the AC on, where to charge, and when a gas car still makes more sense.
Four years ago we added four Teslas to the fleet as an experiment. Today electric cars make up about 15 percent of our rentals, and nearly half of those guests have never driven an EV before. Most of them love it. A few would have been happier in a hybrid. This guide is here to help you know which group you are in before you book.
What range really looks like in Miami
EPA range numbers assume mild temperatures and moderate speeds. Miami is hot, humid and full of highway driving, so plan on about 80 to 85 percent of the posted figure. That means roughly 260 miles in a Model Y Long Range and 220 in a Model 3 with the air conditioning running.
For context, a typical vacation day, such as the airport to South Beach, a drive to Wynwood for lunch, and dinner in Coconut Grove, uses 50 to 70 miles. You could go three days without charging, although most guests top up while they shop or sleep.
Where to charge
Superchargers
Tesla Superchargers are the fastest option, adding 150 to 200 miles in about 20 minutes. Useful Miami sites include Dolphin Mall, the Miami Beach Convention Center garage, Aventura Mall, Dadeland and Brickell City Centre. Heading south, you will find them in Florida City, Key Largo, Marathon and Key West.
Hotel and garage chargers
Most large hotels and condo towers in Brickell and Miami Beach have Level 2 chargers in their garages. They add roughly 30 miles per hour, which is plenty overnight. Ask about charging when you book your hotel, since some charge a small daily fee or reserve chargers for valet.
How we set you up
- Every EV leaves our lot at 90 percent charge
- A 10 minute walkthrough covers the key card, climate, charging port and navigation
- The glovebox has a printed map of reliable chargers from FLL to Key West
- Your first EV rental with us includes free Supercharging for the whole trip
- After that, Supercharger sessions are billed at cost with no markup
The honest trade-offs
EVs are not for everyone. If your plans include long days with tight timing, such as a same-day round trip to Key West with a dinner reservation, a 20 minute charge stop can feel like a burden. Guests staying at small Airbnbs without parking may also find overnight charging hard to arrange.
Heat matters too. A car parked in the sun in August will use a few percent of battery running cabin overheat protection. It is not a problem, but it surprises people who check the app at lunch.
If you will drive under 150 miles a day and sleep somewhere with a charger, an EV is the cheapest, quietest way to see Miami.
Returning an EV
Bring it back with at least 20 percent charge. Below that, we charge a flat $25 recharge fee rather than a per-mile penalty. Returning at our airport lot is easiest, since every space in the EV row has its own charger and our crew plugs it in for you.
Should you book one?
Book an EV if you enjoy trying new tech, want the lowest running cost, or are staying in Brickell, Miami Beach or anywhere with garage charging. Choose the RAV4 Hybrid if you want the savings without thinking about charging at all. Either way, our crew is happy to talk it through by phone or text before you commit.
