Hertz Australia now offering Polestar 2s

POTENTIALLY hastening the broader acceptance of pure EVs in Australia is news that Hertz is now offering Polestar 2 electric vehicles on its rental fleet.

The performance Polestar EV sedans will be available from today (August 11) to book across Australia as the local rollout begins.

Travellers can book the luxurious new additions to Hertz’s fleet from capital city locations including Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Launceston, Melbourne and Sydney.

Three versions of Polestar 2 are produced: the Standard single motor version with a 478km claimed range, 170kW output and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 7.4 seconds.

The Long Range single motor variant and it’s good for 551km claimed range with the same output from the engine and same 0-100km/h time as the standard model.

Step up further to the Long Range dual motor Polestar 2 that has a claimed range of 487km and has 300kW on tap with a 0-100km/h time of 4.7 seconds.

An upgrade to the dual motor version sees power jump 50kW to 350kW and torque jump 20Nm to 680Nm in its tuned state.

Probably not available through Hertz though…

The local fleet expansion follows on from a recent announcement of Hertz’s partnership with Polestar that commits the rental company to adding over 65,000 Polestar vehicles to its global fleet over the next five years.

Hertz plans to quickly become the pre-eminent EV car rental brand with one of the largest EV rental fleets in the world including Polestar vehicles.

“Hertz is committed to setting the standard for the future of mobility, electrification, and a digital-first customer experience, by growing our EV fleet while providing the best rental and recharging experience for leisure and business customers around the world,” said Hertz APAC vice president Eoin Macneill.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Polestar to bring an exciting premium EV to the Australian market, providing customers the opportunity to drive the latest in automotive technology while expanding our range of eco-conscious options within our fleet.”

Polestar Australia has welcomed the opportunity to partner with Hertz and enable more Australians to experience electric vehicles. As an EV only company, Polestar has a commitment to accelerating the shift to sustainable mobility.

“Our partnership with Hertz provides an exciting opportunity for more Australians to experience the thrill of driving an EV while reducing their environmental impact,” said Polestar Australia’s Samantha Johnson.

“For many customers, this will be their first experience in an electric vehicle and we’re proud to be able to share in their e-mobility journey.”

Polestar 2 features avant-garde Scandinavian design and leading in-car technology via its infotainment system powered by Android Automotive OS with Google built-in, providing a driver-oriented, dynamic driving package. The vehicle will be available to Hertz’ business and leisure customers as well as its rideshare partners.

“With Aussie’s ever-increasing appetite for more sustainable ways of living and travelling, Hertz continues to meet consumer expectations by providing alternative modes of transport. By providing a premium driving experience and service to its customers, Hertz expects to help drive EV adoption in Australia,” added Mr Macneill.

“As a country, we are becoming more environmentally conscious and at Hertz we’re prioritising providing our customers with the opportunity to travel more sustainably.

“We’re also providing Aussies with the ability to become acquainted with an EV without having to make the financial commitment to buy one. We believe by providing consumers with the ability to try before they buy for a selected amount of time, we will be able to support the confidence of consumers in their decision to switch to EVs.

“Consumers are wanting to create zero-emission experiences for themselves and we're ready to meet that demand.”