See some of the startup's most popular vehicles and some information about charging estimates and capabilities in Dayton.
**A personal favorite for Briggs**
For the average EV, not in idea conditions, Briggs estimates it will get around 245 miles per charge. A charge at a supercharge station powering a vehicle from 0-80% can take up to 15 minutes, but Briggs noted newer EVs are getting faster with charge times.
EV owners have a few options in the market today for charging. While some existing and upcoming charging stations are free, many charge cents per kilowatt, similar to a gas station. Briggs estimated the average cost for a 72-kilowatt battery charge in Dayton would run an owner about $22.
However, some vehicle brands offer free charging subscriptions with the purchase of a car or free/discounted instillations of charging stations at home. While an at-home charging station might tack on an addition $40 or $50 to an electricity bill, Briggs said it offers a slightly cheaper alternative and more convenience than a gas station.
“The other benefit of it is with electric vehicles is very low maintenance costs,” Briggs said. “So instead of having to worry about replacing the engine component or transmission or always having to worry about you have your fluids at a certain level, that's one less maintenance thing that you have to worry about.”
As demand in the electric vehicle market continues to rev up in 2023, a Cincinnati-based electrical vehicle (EV) renting dealership is expanding to its third location. This follows an expansion to the Dayton region in summer 2022.
EVentures Rentals opened its first location right at the onset of the pandemic in February 2020. While the pandemic created scarcity in the gas vehicle market and gas prices rose dramatically, co-founder and co-owner of EVentures Rentals Dana Briggs said it’s the only market they’ve ever known.
“We kind of faced the monster head on,” Briggs said. “And now we're starting to see what it probably would have been like before Covid. But due to the demand of EVs and the growth of charging infrastructure and people who just wanted to try out electric vehicle, it almost balances out.”
Briggs and his partner Aaron Cunningham each operate one of the two existing locations. Cunningham operates the original location in Cincinnati while Briggs runs the 2,000-square-foot location in downtown Dayton – which opened in June 2022.
“We both originally had the idea, so we had to sit down, have a conversation and say, ‘Instead of being competitors, let's be partners,’” Briggs said.
The startup currently has 28 cars in their shared fleet between offices with intention to expand inventory in 2023.
NOTE: Click the gallery to see some of EVentures Rentals’ popular models and comments from Briggs on EV charging.
Briggs said EVentures has just signed a lease for its third location in Forest Park. The location will focus on long-term rentals for clients who are seeking longer rentals or to fill a gap in the market for those who wreck and EV and need a rental through their insurance.
Briggs said clients typically use their vehicles for business, vacation or just to test them out and determine if an EV is right for them. He said once people rent an electric vehicle, they don’t typically want to go back to their gas-powered equivalent.
“We have a lot of customers that they want to just try out an electric vehicle before they make their purchase,” Briggs said. “Those are the customers that we spend the most time with because they have the most questions and want to get the most out of the vehicle. We enjoy those customers the most.”
The renting process itself is intended to be convenient with phone app capabilities including locking/unlocking and check-in/check-out. Upon drop off, clients can park the car, leave the keys inside and use the app to let the owners know it has been locked and returned. EVentures gets a notification that the car has been checked back in and they receive stats of the vehicle’s trip including how far it went, how much charging will cost the renter and more.
Vehicles can be renting starting at $75 per day, increasing depending on the model selected. With a father who served in the military, Briggs said EVentures offers discounts for veterans, active military and first responders.
Dayton's electric vehicle market
While Briggs said Cincinnati took to the EV market faster than Dayton, he believes Dayton tech-focused atmosphere presented a great opportunity for business.
“Cincinnati has taken better because it's a bigger city and I think is because they have maybe just a bigger budget to spend on the electrical infrastructure versus Dayton,” Briggs said. “But the one thing I have noticed is Dayton does have a lot of growth in technology here and, with that, they don't want to leave electric vehicles behind. That’s where I see the major demand and growth.”
In recent years, the region has continued to invest in EV charging stations, especially downtown. With existing stations at locations like Sinclair, Dayton City Hall, in the Oregon District, Day Air Ballpark, and near Riverscape, more stations are soon to come at Day Air Ballpark, 2nd St. Market, Dayton Metro Library, and Levitt Pavilion.
Briggs said as more EV charging stations popup, the convenience will add to not only EVentures’ business but natural market growth. He believes that with the policies in place, the EV market will become a more widespread option and numbers will at least double by 2025 or 2026.
“I believe that time is approaching because of factors that we can't control between the politics of getting the minerals to create the batteries, or the economy far as the way the money is spent or budgets that they spend money on,” Briggs said. “But the one thing I can say is when people try electric vehicles, they love it and want it. That's gonna drive the demand on its own."
Overall, Briggs said the only negative to an electric vehicle is their additional consumption of energy in cold weather.
“But far as driving range, charging ability, finding chargers, it’s a vehicle for every consumer no matter what your price point is - that's one thing I would like everyone to understand,” Briggs said.
Future of EVentures Rentals
Through several instances in the past year, EVentures Rentals found dealing with insurance companies to be a good driver in revenue as EV drivers find themselves back to gas cars in the event of a crash. Briggs said they have been handing out brochures to local body shops and hope to see this sector of their business climb in 2023.
“We don't have a start date yet because we just signed the lease for the (Forest Park) location,” Briggs said. “It's under renovation currently to give it our branding, colors and stuff like that.”
Additionally, Briggs said with new vehicles entering the market in 2023, EVentures plans to expand its fleet and anticipates associated revenue growth of 50%. This follows consistent growth that the company has seen over the last few years as it has steadily increased its fleet inventory between the two existing locations.
Also in 2023, Briggs anticipates continuing to partner with local nonprofit Drive Electric Dayton which hosts free events throughout the year to educate and expose the public to the benefits of electric vehicles. In 2022, EVentures provided some of its fleet to a trial at Madison High School which allowed students to experience, learn about and ride in a selection of 77 EVs.
“That's something that we look forward to doing year over year,” Briggs said. “I believe in just showing the younger generation what's to come. Then, when they become an adult or once they’re able to drive, that’s going to drive not just the demand but the growth as well.”
EVentures Rentals
Founded: February 2020
Founders: Dana Briggs and Aaron Cunningham
Cincinnati Location: 5207 Madison Road Ste B100
Dayton Location: 118 W. First St. Ste 115
Companywide employment: 3
Favorite Model: Tesla Model Y
Website: EVentures.rentals.com
