Electric golf cart rental company, Island EV Rentals, has opened its first Oahu location, which will primarily serve the areas of Ala Moana, Waikiki, Diamond Head and Kahala.
The location is on leased parking space next to The Kahala Hotel & Resort and is open by reservation only, the company said in an announcement Friday. It primarily delivers the vehicles door to door, according to owner and founder Jeff Onderko.
"It's a pickup point for people who want to pick up there, but most people prefer delivery," Onderko told Pacific Business News. "... If there's an event in Ko Olina, delivery is also available far out."
Island EV Rentals offers three models: Carrier 4, Carrier 6 and Forrester 6. The Carrier 4 model seats four passengers and is available starting from $114 per day. Carrier 6 seats six passengers and can be rented from $166 per day. Forrester 6 seats six and can be rented from $177 per day. The golf carts are street legal, meaning they are permitted on roads with speeds of 35 mph or less, and they can drive for 40 miles after each charge. Other features include a Bluetooth sound system and radio, a screen that can play videos when parked, a regenerative braking system, and rear cameras, according to Onderko.
The carts, which are 100% electric and do not require any gas, also have less of a carbon footprint than traditional vehicles, according to Onderko, who describes the carts as an "experiential vehicle."
"Street parking is much easier, particularly in the four-seater carts. ... It's a lot more fun and a lot more convenient," he said. "Cars are a function of life. Getting into a golf cart on the street without a golf club, it makes things a little more fun."
Qualifications to rent an electric vehicle golf cart are similar to that of a traditional rental car, in that drivers must be 25 years of age, and a copy of a driver's license and insurance must be provided.
The company also has three pickup locations on Maui — in Kihei, Wailea and Makena — that opened in 2021. Because the carts are often booked far in advance, Island EV Rentals can ship vehicles between islands according to demand, Onderko said.
"My business is new age-y in the sense that it's built on technology and third-party contracting," he said. "I don't have an employee. Everything I do is third-party from the mobile detailers to the variety of tow companies."
Going forward, Onderko said he plans to grow the company "one day at a time, one customer at a time."
"It's been well-received, but I'd like the market to dictate to us how we should grow, not the other way around."
