A company electric car can be tested sensibly by renting a Škoda Enyaq iV for two months or longer, entrusting it to several drivers with different working styles and recording what actually happens throughout. Your fleet decision then rests not on impressions, but on your own data. This article is not a general introduction to electric mobility, but a concrete plan for a pilot trial: whom to choose, what to monitor and how to evaluate the outcome.
Why a Single Test Drive Is Not Enough
A weekend test drive shows how the car handles. It does not show how it fits into the week of a sales representative, a technician or a branch manager. The real questions arise only in everyday operation: where you will charge the car overnight, what happens when the day's plan changes, and whether drivers actually want to use it.
A pilot should last long enough for all the typical situations to appear. That is why a long-term rental or operating lease from two months makes more sense than a short-term hire. You buy nothing and commit yourself for no years ahead.
Step 1: Choose the Right Drivers
The worst mistake is to give the car to an enthusiast who drives short routes around Prague. You will get impressive results that cannot be generalised. Instead, choose two or three people who represent different types of use:
- The city driver – mostly Prague and its surroundings, frequent stops, parking at clients' premises.
- The long-distance driver – regular longer journeys outside the city.
- The sceptic – a person who does not trust electric cars. Their remarks are often the most valuable for the decision.
The car can be shared in turns, or you can divide the pilot into stages. The key is that every type of work gets its share of time.
Step 2: Introduce a Simple Log
You do not need special software; a spreadsheet will do. For every journey, record:
- the date, route and number of kilometres driven,
- where and when the car was charged, and whether it was convenient,
- whether the driver had to change their plans because of charging,
- how much extra time charging took compared with refuelling,
- notes: what was surprising, what was a nuisance, what was appreciated.
After a month, patterns will emerge. For example, 90% of journeys may fit within a single overnight charge, with only two routes a month causing problems. You will not learn such things from a brochure.
Step 3: Try the Inconvenient Situations Too
A pilot that includes only ideal days proves nothing. Deliberately try out:
- a longer route with a charging stop,
- a packed day when there is no time to wait,
- driving in poor weather, because an electric car's range changes in winter or cold conditions,
- parking and charging at a client's premises or at a branch.
You will find the car's specifications, such as equipment and technical data, on the page for the Škoda Enyaq iV. If a lower, sportier roofline appeals to you, also take a look at the Enyaq Coupé iV. An overview of typical use is also offered by an earlier article, Škoda Enyaq iV for rent.
Step 4: Keep an Eye on Mileage and Conditions
Long-term rental comes with mileage limits. For rentals and operating leases from two months, we allow 3,000 km per month, while the daily mileage limit for vehicles varies according to the length of the rental. Before you launch the pilot, calculate how many kilometres your people will realistically drive, and check the limits on the vehicle's page. If you are unsure, call or write to us via the contact page.
If anyone in the pilot is going to travel abroad, this is possible only by prior agreement and only to EU countries, with mandatory assistance service. Include this in your plan in advance, not two days before the trip. All vehicles have compulsory third-party liability insurance and collision insurance; in the event of an accident, the client pays an excess depending on the type of insurance. Full details are in the terms and conditions.
Step 5: Evaluate Against Criteria Set in Advance
Write the criteria at the beginning, not at the end. Otherwise everyone will see in the data what they wanted to see. A useful set of questions:
- Did most journeys fit within normal charging mode without changes to the plan?
- How many times did the driver have to deal with charging beyond the normal day?
- Would the drivers like to keep using an electric car?
- Can charging be arranged outside the pilot as well, that is, at the drivers' homes or at the company?
- Which roles would work well in an electric car, and which would not?
The result is often not a yes or no for the entire fleet, but a mixed solution: electric cars for certain roles, with conventional drivetrains for the others. If you are also interested in transitional solutions, take another look at the article on eco-friendly cars and hybrids.
How to Launch a Pilot in Practice
- Choose the drivers and estimate how many kilometres they will drive per month.
- Call or write to us to agree on the rental period and conditions, including vehicle delivery within Prague if required.
- Prepare the log and the criteria.
- Reserve the vehicle via the reservation page, and provide a valid driving licence and proof of identity, and meet the minimum age of 21. The deposit amount is stated on the vehicle's page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a pilot last?
At least two months, which also corresponds to the minimum length of a long-term rental and an operating lease. Over that time, different types of days and changes in the weather will come into play.
Can several employees use the car?
Yes, but please arrange this with us in advance, with regard to insurance and the rental terms. Drivers must meet the driving licence and age requirements.
What if the electric car turns out to be unsuitable?
That is precisely why you run a pilot. When the rental ends, you are not left with the car on your hands, and you can choose a different solution or try another model from our fleet.
Can I try several models in succession?
Yes. If you want to compare another vehicle after the pilot, arrange it by phone or e-mail and we will propose the most suitable approach together.
Would You Like to Launch a Pilot?
Write or call us, and together with you we will set the length and conditions of the test. You can also reserve the vehicle straight away on the page /rezervace.
