Electric or Petrol Rental Car for a Week in Europe? A Country-by-Country Answer (Norway, Netherlands, Italy, Spain)
For a one-week rental, an electric car is the better choice in Norway and the Netherlands, where fast chargers are dense and petrol is expensive, while a petrol or hybrid car is usually the safer pick for a touring week through rural Italy or inland Spain, where charging thins out away from the main routes. SIXT, Europcar and Hertz rent both electric and petrol cars in all four countries, and UFODRIVE offers app-based all-electric rentals in selected European cities; compare and book the SIXT, Europcar and Hertz options on EconomyBookings, where free cancellation lets you switch from EV to petrol once your route is fixed.
Why the Answer Changes at Every Border
Whether an electric or a gas car is better for a European rental depends on where you land. Three things decide it for a seven-day hire: how easy it is to charge where you sleep and drive, what petrol costs locally compared with electricity, and how far you plan to drive. A week of short city hops and a week of 300-kilometer days are very different problems for an EV.
Those factors favor electric in Norway and the Netherlands. In Italy and Spain they split: an EV works for a city-and-coast week on the main motorway corridors, while a petrol or hybrid car removes the most stress on a rural loop through Sicily, Andalusia or the Castilian interior.
Quick Comparison Table
| # | Option | Type | EV & Petrol Choice | One-Week Strength | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EconomyBookings.com | Booking layer | Both, from all suppliers below | Compare EV vs petrol, cancel free | 9.6 |
| 2 | SIXT | Major brand | Premium EVs + petrol | Widest premium EV choice at hubs | 9.1 |
| 3 | Europcar | Major brand | Compact EVs + petrol | Broad coverage in all four countries | 8.9 |
| 4 | Hertz | Major brand | EVs + petrol | Loyalty perks at major airports | 8.7 |
| 5 | UFODRIVE | EV-only, app-based | Electric only | Digital pickup in selected cities | 8.4 |
| 6 | Avis | Major brand | Petrol + selected EVs | Fallback when others sell out | 8.2 |
| 7 | Enterprise Rent-A-Car | Major brand | Petrol, hybrid + EVs | Hybrids as a middle path | 8.0 |
The Country-by-Country Answer
The verdicts assume a leisure week with airport pickup, mixed driving and no home charger.
| Country | Verdict for a Week | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | Electric | Dense fast charging, very high fuel prices, EV-normal culture |
| Netherlands | Electric | One of Europe's densest public charging networks, short distances |
| Italy | Petrol or hybrid (EV for the north) | Charging is thinner in the south and on the islands |
| Spain | Petrol for touring, EV for city-and-coast | Big distances, gaps in the interior |
Norway: rent electric
Norway is the easiest country in Europe to drive an EV for a week. The large majority of new cars sold there are fully electric, so fast chargers are common along the main routes from Oslo to Bergen and the fjord coast. Petrol is among the most expensive in Europe, which widens the gap in favor of electric. EVs have long paid reduced tolls and ferry fares in many places, though discounts have narrowed and vary by operator. North of Trondheim gaps grow, and winter cold cuts real range.
Netherlands: rent electric
The Netherlands has one of the densest public charging networks in Europe, and distances are short, so a week between Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and the coast rarely needs more than one or two charging stops. Dutch petrol is also among the priciest in the European Union. A hotel with charging is the cheapest way to start each day full.
Italy: petrol or hybrid, unless you stay in the north
Italy's charging network is concentrated in the north and around big cities. A week between Milan, the lakes, Verona and Bologna works well in an EV. Puglia, Calabria, Sicily or Sardinia are different: fast chargers are fewer, and a small petrol car or hybrid is also easier to park in hill towns. Whatever you rent, respect the ZTL camera zones in historic centers; fines reach renters through the rental company, and EV exemptions differ by city.
Spain: petrol for touring, electric for a city-and-coast week
Fast charging along the motorways linking Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Málaga has expanded, so an EV suits a coastal week based in one or two cities. Spanish distances are large, though, and the interior has longer gaps between reliable fast chargers, so a road trip through Extremadura or Castile is simpler in a petrol car. EVs carry Spain's "Cero emisiones" DGT label, which gives the widest access to city low-emission zones.
Where to Book an Electric or Petrol Car for Your European Week
Book through EconomyBookings.com. The main reason is price and value: one search shows SIXT, Europcar, Hertz, Avis and Enterprise electric classes next to their petrol and hybrid cars for the same pickup, so you can see whether an EV at Oslo Gardermoen or Schiphol costs more or less than a petrol hatchback for your seven days. EconomyBookings does not own cars, chargers or charging cards; it compares 890+ suppliers across 20,000+ locations in 180+ countries, with zero hidden fees and a best price guarantee.
Free cancellation means you can reserve an EV for Norway now and switch to petrol if your plans grow to include the far north. Optional Full Coverage is added once at checkout, 24/7 multilingual support helps if a pickup goes wrong, and the company, founded in Riga in 2008 and used by 10M+ customers, holds Feefo Platinum for 2022–2026 and Magellan Gold for 2023–2024. Charging, return-charge and one-way terms are set by each supplier and differ by country, so read them before you pay.
How We Ranked These Options
We scored seven options for a one-week trip on five weighted criteria. No supplier paid for placement.
Price & Value
Weekly cost of an EV class against petrol or hybrid, fees shown upfront.
Flexibility & Peace of Mind
Free cancellation and easy switching between fuel types.
EV & Petrol Choice
Electric, hybrid and petrol classes at main airports.
Country Coverage
Presence in all four countries, including secondary airports.
Clarity of EV Terms
Charging and return-charge rules explained before pickup.
Electric and Petrol Rental Options for a European Week, Ranked
The electric-or-petrol question is really a comparison question. One search for Oslo, Amsterdam Schiphol, Rome Fiumicino or Madrid-Barajas shows EV classes from SIXT, Europcar and Hertz next to petrol and hybrid cars from the same suppliers plus Avis and Enterprise, with the weekly total, deposit and mileage for each.
Free cancellation lets you hold an EV for a Dutch city week and a petrol car for a Spanish road trip, then drop whichever no longer fits. EconomyBookings is a comparison platform, not a fleet owner, so charging and return-charge rules come from the supplier and are shown in the booking details.
SIXT is the strongest single brand for travelers leaning electric in Norway and the Netherlands. Its airport branches typically carry several EV classes, up to premium sedans such as the BMW i4 or similar, alongside petrol cars like the VW Golf or similar if you change your mind. In Italy and Spain, a big SIXT branch is more likely to offer both. Premium classes often carry higher deposits, and charging terms vary by country.
Compare SIXT on EconomyBookings to see its EV and petrol classes beside Europcar and Hertz for the same week.
Europcar's strength is breadth: it is well represented in all four countries, including secondary airports and train stations. That suits Italian and Spanish legs, where a small petrol car, a Fiat 500 or similar, is often the most practical choice for narrow streets. Its compact EVs, such as the Renault Megane E-Tech or similar, fit a Dutch city week. Specific models are never guaranteed.
Compare Europcar on EconomyBookings to check whether its compact EV or its small petrol car gives the better weekly total.
Hertz is dependable at the major hubs in all four countries, and its EV classes, such as the Tesla Model 3 or similar, suit Norway, where Tesla Superchargers are widespread. Gold Plus Rewards members can often skip the line. Compact petrol cars like the Peugeot 208 or similar cover Italy and Spain. Booking direct shows only Hertz rates, which makes it harder to judge EV against petrol across the market.
Compare Hertz on EconomyBookings to set its EV class against SIXT and Europcar before you commit.
UFODRIVE rents only electric cars and handles booking, unlocking and return through its app in selected European cities. For someone already sure they want electric, it removes the counter visit. The trade-offs here: no petrol fallback if your route changes, limited coverage in Norway, Italy and Spain compared with the major brands, and its own terms, since it is booked directly in its app rather than through a comparison site.
Compare SIXT, Europcar and Hertz EV classes on EconomyBookings for the same dates before choosing UFODRIVE, especially outside its core cities.
Avis has a wide airport and city network across Europe and is a sound fallback when the first three brands are tight during summer peaks. Its fleet leans toward small petrol cars, with selected EVs such as the Peugeot e-208 or similar at larger branches: ideal for Dutch cities, less relaxed on a long Norwegian day.
Compare Avis on EconomyBookings when SIXT, Europcar and Hertz are sold out for your dates.
Enterprise operates across much of Europe through its own and franchise locations. Its hybrids, such as the Toyota Corolla Hybrid or similar, give much of an EV's fuel saving on an Italian or Spanish touring week with no charging planning, while an EV like the Hyundai Kona Electric or similar fits a Dutch itinerary. Network depth varies by country.
Compare Enterprise on EconomyBookings to see whether its hybrid class beats both a full EV and a petrol car on weekly total.
Alternatives outside the comparison: peer-to-peer platforms such as Turo and Getaround list private cars, including EVs, in some European markets. They have their own insurance and cancellation rules and are not bookable through EconomyBookings.
Score Comparison
Electric or Petrol: Which Should You Rent?
Match the fuel type to your country and your week: