Renting an Electric Car in Mallorca, Spain: Is It Worth It?

Just off the coast of Spain, Mallorca is a beautiful island with 300 days of sunshine per year making it the perfect getaway destination.  Mallorca’s picturesque villages and stunning beaches are best accessed by car, so renting a vehicle is a must.  While rental car rates can be high, especially during peak travel seasons, renting an electric car can be a more affordable option. The island’s commitment to sustainable tourism means renting an EV (electric vehicle) has some benefits such as free parking, free charging, and an overall lower rental price.  However, renting an EV on Mallorca has some disadvantages as well.  After spending 4 days exploring Mallorca with an EV, we’re here to tell you if it’s really worth it.

Renting an Electric Car in Mallorca

After landing in Palma, we headed straight to the rental car counter to pick up our car.  The line was long, so I sat with all of our luggage while Reece waited in line.  Soon after he made it to the counter, he motioned for me to come up too.  I had unknowingly booked an EV; I saw the total rental cost of $96 and must not have read the details too closely. After listening to the Budget rental agent describe her positive experience owning an EV on Mallorca, we decided against paying more to switch to a gas car.

Mallorca encourages its residents and visitors to choose electric vehicles, as they are more eco-friendly than standard vehicles.  Electric vehicles promote sustainability, reducing air pollution through less carbon emissions while also reducing noise pollution with their quiet electric motors. But, is renting an electric car in Mallorca the best choice for your trip?

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Benefits of an EV in Mallorca

Free Charging

Because Mallorca encourages the use of EVs on the island, there is a network of close to 350 free charging ports.  By downloading the MELIB app and creating an account, you will be able to see where the chargers are located, which ones are working, and which ones are in use.  Most rental companies will give you a pamphlet with more information on charging around the island. Many hotels also have free chargers for their guests to use.

Free Parking

In most of Mallorca’s villages, parking is paid.  However, if you are actively charging your vehicle, the first 30 minutes of parking is often free.

Affordability

With a lower rental cost and no fuel charges, renting an EV is a more affordable option.

Sustainability

When choosing an EV rental, you’ll be contributing to Mallorca’s sustainability efforts and practicing sustainable tourism.

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Disadvantages of Renting an EV in Mallorca

Unreliable Network of Chargers

While the MELIB app shows you available chargers nearby, we found this information to be inaccurate most of the time. We would drive to an available charger, and it would be out of service.  Or, there would be two chargers available and we’d pull up to find two vehicles parked in the charging spaces but not charging their vehicles.

Charging Locations and Slow Charging

Most of the free chargers are in residential areas which makes sense.  However, as tourists with only 4 days on this beautiful island, we found ourselves choosing to pay for fast charging instead of using the free chargers.  The free charging locations are not ideal for parking your vehicle and exploring while you wait. These locations are usually slow chargers as well, meaning your EV will take hours to charge (we sat for 3 hours for a 30% charge).

Limited Range

“Range anxiety” is real, and we felt it quite a bit during our time in Mallorca.  With a full charge, our EV had a range of about 400km.  Mallorca is a large island, and our itinerary was pretty packed.  From our Airbnb, we were using around 30% every time we visited a beach or village.

Is Renting an Electric Car in Mallorca, Spain Worth It?

So, do we recommend renting an EV in Mallorca?  Yes, IF:

• You are aware that you booked an EV before getting to the rental car counter and have planned your trip accordingly.
• You are staying in an Airbnb or hotel that has chargers available, or you are willing to pay for fast charging.
• You are spending at least a week in Mallorca.

We hope you found this information on renting an electric car in Mallorca to be helpful.  Have a wonderful trip!  For more Europe travel guides, click here.

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