Even if you have never sat in an electric car before, you can try a rental electric car in Prague. You only need to know three things: where and how you will charge, that real-world range varies with your driving style and the weather, and that you should plan your route in advance. The Škoda Enyaq iV is a good choice for a first experience: it is a five-seat SUV with an automatic transmission, air conditioning and navigation, so it drives much like any other automatic car.
What Changes Compared with a Petrol or Diesel Car
The most obvious difference is that instead of a petrol station, you deal with a socket or a charging point. Otherwise, driving is simpler than you might expect:
- Automatic transmission – no gear changes, just the accelerator and the brake.
- Quiet operation – driving in heavy traffic is more relaxing.
- Regenerative braking – when you lift your foot off the accelerator, the car returns part of the energy to the battery while slowing down. You will get used to its intensity within a few kilometres.
- Instant response – the car reacts more eagerly than you might expect, so accelerate smoothly at the first few junctions.
We recommend allowing a few extra minutes at pick-up so that our representative can show you the controls, how to open the charging port and how to read the battery status. The procedure described in the article how car pick-up works at a car rental company is also useful here, as it covers checkpoints that apply to every vehicle.
Charging in Prague: How to Approach It
Prague has public chargers at shopping centres, in car parks and on the street. However, always check the specific networks, operators and payment terms in the app or at the charging point itself – we do not want to promise anything that may change. The following steps will help in practice:
- Ask when you book what charging equipment comes with the car and how to charge it, so you do not have to look for answers on the spot.
- Check the battery level before you set off, so that you know where you are starting from.
- Combine charging with an activity you would be doing anyway – shopping, lunch or a meeting. Avoid waiting at the charger unnecessarily.
- Do not leave charging until the last minute. When the battery level is dropping, look for a charger in good time rather than waiting until you are running on reserve.
- Remember the return of the car – agree in advance on the charge level at which you should return it.
If you live or work somewhere with charging available, the rental will be even more convenient. For everyone else, it is not an obstacle, just something that requires a little more planning.
Range in Practice: What to Expect
The range stated by the manufacturer is only a guide. Actual energy consumption varies depending on:
- speed – on the motorway, a higher pace drains the battery faster than calm city driving,
- outside temperature – in winter, the range drops because of heating and a colder battery,
- terrain and load – hills, a full boot and five passengers all increase consumption,
- driving style – smooth driving and the use of regenerative braking extend the range.
For this reason, nobody can honestly guarantee a specific figure for your route. A sensible rule is to allow a larger safety margin than the figure on the display would suggest, and to split any journey longer than your usual daily circuit into stages with charging options.
Also keep the rental mileage limit in mind. For the Enyaq iV, the limit is 300 km/day for a 1-day rental, 250 km/day for 2–5 days, 200 km/day for 6–14 days, 150 km/day for 15–29 days and 100 km/day for 30 days or more. For most city and suburban journeys, this is a sufficient allowance.
Who Electric Rental Suits
- Drivers in Prague and the surrounding area who mainly drive in and around the city and want to try an electric car before a possible purchase.
- Companies considering electrifying their fleet that want to test real-world operation first. For longer cooperation, you can arrange long-term rental or operating leasing.
- Families or groups of up to five people who want a spacious SUV with an automatic transmission and navigation.
- Design enthusiasts – if you like the shape of the bodywork, take a look at the Škoda Enyaq Coupé iV.
- Anyone who has just changed cars and is looking for a short-term experience with no commitment.
On the other hand, if you have a long journey with many stops ahead of you and no time to plan, a petrol or diesel car may be more convenient, for example the Škoda Kodiaq with 4x4 drive. You can check whether it suits you with a quick phone call.
How to Book an Electric Car
The process is the same as for our other vehicles. Choose the Enyaq iV on the vehicle page, select your dates and submit your booking. At pick-up, you will need a valid driving licence and a form of ID, and the minimum age is 21. You can find the deposit amount on the vehicle page and all the rules in the rental terms and conditions. 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.
Would you like the car delivered to you? Within Prague, this is possible by arrangement by phone or e-mail; see the article on car delivery for more information. Travel abroad must be agreed in advance, is permitted only to EU countries, and breakdown assistance is mandatory. You can find another perspective on the model in our Enyaq iV overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience with electric cars?
No. Thanks to the automatic transmission, driving is easier than in most petrol or diesel cars. All you need to do is learn the basics of charging and regenerative braking, which we will explain to you at hand-over.
What if the battery runs down sooner than I expect?
That is why you should plan your route with a safety margin and charge in good time. If you have any problem, please contact us on +420 703 149 146 or at [email protected]. If you are travelling abroad, you will be able to use the mandatory breakdown assistance service.
Can I take the Enyaq iV abroad?
Yes, but only to EU countries and by prior agreement with the rental company. Please also plan your charging along the route.
Where can I charge if I do not have my own socket?
Use public chargers, for example at shopping centres, and charge while doing activities you would be doing anyway. Always check the specific terms with the charging point operator.
Try an Electric Car with No Commitment
Would you like to find out whether electric driving suits you? Choose your dates and book the Škoda Enyaq iV online, or get in touch first via our contact page. We will be happy to advise you on charging and route planning.
