Enterprise to offer EVs

Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced the first phase of its plans to offer electric vehicles (EVs) at select offices throughout its network of more than 5,000 United States locations.

Delivery of 500 Nissan Leafs will begin in January 2011 and will continue throughout the year. In addition to the Leafs, the company will offer customers electric vehicles from other manufacturers as they become available.

Electric vehicles use no gasoline and do not produce greenhouse gas emissions. The cars can be charged using a standard 110-volt home outlet, or a 220-volt or 480-volt commercial charging station. Most EVs can travel about 100 miles on a single charge, accommodating the travel habits of the daily commuter, who drives an average of approximately 40 miles a day.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car initially will offer electric vehicles to customers across eight different markets where the infrastructure exists to support the vehicles, including Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; San Diego; Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle.

Beginning November 2010, charging stations will be installed at select locations, including several of the Enterprise “hybrid branches” – nearly 100 designated locations which offer hybrids and other environmentally-friendly rental options in 30 different markets. Enterprise is rolling the vehicles out to a limited number of branches to ensure that it can properly train its employees to show customers how to use and charge the EVs.