Avis And Hertz To Offer EV Rentals Starting in 2011
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Hertz and Avis are the first two car rental companies who have publicly announced that they will be offering EVs as rental choices in 2011.
Rental car companies Hertz and Avis have both recently announced their plans to offer electric vehicles (EVs) as part of some of their fleet of vehicles. The new EV offerings are a part of a plan to not only lower each companies’ overall operating emissions, but to also give customers an opportunity to become more acquainted and educated with the new technology. From a practicality standpoint, EVs are the perfect vehicle for rental car companies seeing as their operational single-charge range is more than enough for most travelers’ needs.
Hertz will offer Nissan Leafs (or Leaves I suppose) in select U.S. markets, while Avis, in its partnership with Renault, will offer an as of yet to be determined Renault EV (possibly the Fluence Z.E. listed above) in select European markets. From Avis’ VP of corporate sales:
“Avis is an important long-term partner for Renault, so we are thrilled to be able to expand our offering with the company to include electric vehicles,” Uwe Hochgeschurtz, senior VP of corporate sales at Renault, said in a statement. “We are confident that the partnership will play an important role in enabling customers to experience the new technology and learn about the environmental benefits of electric vehicles, which are sure to become a significant alternative for car travel in the future.”
Hopefully, but unlikely, these models will be priced in a way that will allow the curious renter to actually consider an EV as a practical and economically feasible choice when making his or her vehicle selection. I know I’d like to rent a Prius when I go out of town, but am often unable to given my budget and what they charge for them. Let’s hope EVs are within the rental budget of the ‘common man’ (or woman).
The Good: A vehicle that will be a much better environmental alternative to a typical rental car. An opportunity for the ‘EV curious’ to experience one first hand. Should help the bottom line of the companies involved.
The Bad: Availability of these vehicles is going to be scarce and rental prices have still not been set. May prove to be ‘too complicated’ for your average car renter to operate and maintain properly. One model per country it seems at the moment.
The Bottom-Line: Given EVs’ range, fewer moving parts, and environmental benefits, the vehicles make great sense all the way around for car rental companies to employ in their fleets.
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