Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Austin Resident Plans Electric Car Rental Business for Tourists

E-Cars Austin plans to rent electric cars to tourists in downtown Austin. However, Austin residents are not sure whether the business would appeal to visitors.

by Staff
August 12, 2009
1 min to read


A local of Austin, Texas will begin renting electric cars to tourists, according to statesman.com.

Through his company, E-Cars Austin, Steve McDermott will offer the Gem e2 cars to Austin visitors. The vehicles reach a maximum of 25 mph and have a 40-mile range. McDermott hopes to expand his fleet, which currently has six vehicles.

Ad Loading...

Renters will pay $30 for an hour or $50 for two hours.

However, several Austin residents are not sure the electric vehicles will work in their city. One commenter by the name of Roger said, “Nice idea, wrong state. Maybe on of the [other] states will be more receptive. Think Rhode Island.”

Another comment made by AgentG said, “Without a/c and [the] exposure to wind and rain, who do these golf carts appeal to? Why would a tourist not take a rental car? Furthermore, the reception they will get in downtown traffic will not leave them with a positive impression of our city.”

There was some glint of hope, however. Anonymous posted, “Possibly these cars could have guaranteed parking spots for sightseeing spots in the Austin area. That would be a plus. I’m sure these could work out for the tourist angle.”

More Rental Operations

Photos of CEOs Colm Brady and Francois Kruger on a blue background and above a headline.
Telematicsby News/Media ReleaseMay 22, 2026

RentalMatics, GeoInt Partner On Rental Car Speed Tracking Tech

Rental operators can now detect and act on speeding while vehicles are still on rent, thereby reducing fines, admin workload, vehicle wear, and safety risks.

Read More →
NextPass 407 ETR

NextPass Expands Toll Payment Service to Highway In Toronto

Fleets and consumer can use a transponder-less option when traveling between Canada and the U.S.

Read More →
A black Jeep is displayed at the Zubie-Bosch-TSD exhibit during the International Car Rental Show.

Zubie, PurCo Integrate Rental Damage Detection With Telematics

The combination brings actionable vehicle insights into PurCo’s PurInspect platform, improving damage detection and operational efficiency for rental fleets.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
50 states map showing LOR rates for each state with different shades of light to dark green

U.S. Length Of Rental (LOR) Declines Slightly in Q1 2026

LOR related to insurance claims overall continues to trend downward, but ongoing market and economic conditions could affect future results while the industry deals with staffing and productivity challenges.

Read More →
Illustration of a driverless futuristic front seat/dashboard view of other cars on a freeway with city skyline on horizon.

Hertz, Uber Deepen Roles In Self-Driving And Driver-Led Fleet Services

The business arrangement connects demand with scalable fleet management services and supports a range of mobility uses.

Read More →
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A tech collage of electronic devices against a computer chip blueprint map.
Rental OperationsMay 1, 2026

Why Car Rental Can No Longer Run On Workarounds

The shift from branch-based software to connected operations is turning rental technology into strategic infrastructure.

Read More →
A black Audi SUV superimposed on a historic scene from downtown Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Carwiz Sets Up Rental Operations In Central Asia

The global franchise operation reaches a first in its rental fleet portfolio with new service in Uzbekistan.

Read More →
A raging brushfire in the countryside.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 30, 2026

Where Rental Fleets Must Adjust To Shifting Catastrophe Risks

West Coast disasters pose unique challenges and liabilities for rental fleet operators, who are advised to take steps tailored to their specific situations.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
ARN Industry Newsmakers thumbnail page with ARN and ICRS logos and shots of Nick DiPrima and Martin Romjue
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueApril 27, 2026

Using AI To Find Rental Car Damage

Angry car renters are storming social media, the mainstream media, and online ratings platforms to complain about charges they claim are either unfounded or excessive.

Read More →
Ad Loading...