Thrifty Franchise in Australia Utilizes Electric Bikes For Pick Up and Delivery
The franchise manager said the bikes have likely already paid for themselves through the increased productivity of staff members who make vehicle deliveries and pick-ups.
Thrifty Car Rental franchise manager Terry Christie has decided to use electric bikes at his South Melbourne location for vehicle deliveries and pick-ups.
“Being an inner city location with a high level of focus on our strong corporate base, we were continually out of the office picking up and delivering vehicles — meaning that we had two people out of the office to deliver or collect each vehicle," Christie said. “With being a team of just four, this then puts more pressure on the rental staff that are left in the office, causing loss of time and potential missed bookings from our valued customers."
Christie said he now uses one person for delivery and collection because time is not spent in traffic. In addition to increased productivity, the amount saved in fuel has likely paid for the cost of the bike, which is compact and folds away.
Users have the option to pedal or use the 200 watts of power to enjoy travelling at around 25kmh. There is no special license needed for the bike and it can travel up to 50kms in one charge.
Related news: Europcar to Utilize Electric Bikes for Vehicle Delivery/Pick-up in London
More Rental Operations

Turo and Tesla Take the Next Step Toward Autonomous Car Rentals
The partnership brings Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) technology into the rental experience, offering a glimpse of how increasingly automated vehicles could change car rental.
Read More →
How Rental Operators Can Navigate Personalized Pricing Rules
As regulators scrutinize the use of customer data in pricing, rental operators need to know whether they can explain why one renter pays more than another.
Read More →
Direct, Broker or Hybrid? How Travel Retailers Source Rental Cars
As travel retailers weigh direct supplier relationships against third-party distribution, rental operators need to understand how those decisions affect their business.
Read More →
How Did This Independent Rental Operator Grow to 170 Vehicles in 4 Years?
With 170 vehicles across three Kentucky locations, Joel Price relies on an overseas team to handle reservations, payments, and after-hours customer service. It's one part of an unconventional approach to growing an independent rental operation.
Read More →
What Does It Take to Succeed in B2B Rentals?
The fundamentals may be familiar to daily car rental operators, but project-based truck rentals put different demands on the fleet and the business.
Read More →
NPR Builds on International Partnerships to Grow Rental Bookings
With Ana Laborde supporting broker development, NPR Auto Group is tailoring distribution strategies, rate packages, and partnerships to grow international reservations across its three brands.
Read More →
Advantage, Sixt Place Among Top Five in Annual Satisfaction Study
While Enterprise and National retain the top spots in JD Power’s 2026 rankings, the latest customer satisfaction results suggest renters can find competitive service beyond the biggest car rental names.
Read More →
The $100,000 Insurance Trap in Exotic Car Rentals
Exotic rental agencies often rely on customers’ personal auto policies to protect six-figure vehicles. But policy language can dramatically change the coverage for vehicles over $100,000 MSRP.
Read More →
The Booking Is Confirmed, But Is Your Customer Ready to Drive?
For international renters, a confirmed reservation doesn’t always mean they’re eligible to drive. Earlier checks can help operators catch documentation and payment issues before the customer reaches the counter.
Read More →
ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers
The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.
Read More →
