Hertz to add Electric Vehicles to their Fleet

In the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Room, with Jack Hidary of Hidary Foundation, James Woolsey, Senator Jeff Bingaman (NM) and Congressman Jay Inslee (WA), Hertz announced that they were expanding their Global Electric Vehicle initiative to Washington DC and will add all electric (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEVs) vehicles, including the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF to its Union Station fleet. In doing so, Hertz will be making the next generation of electric vehicles available to the general public through its car sharing operation.

The EV and PHEV Hertz fleet in Washington, D.C. will serve a testing ground for consumers as manufactures ramp up production to achieve the President's goal of 1 million Electric Vehicles on the road by 2015. The first vehicles will be located at Union Station, blocks from Capitol Hill and ideal for visitors commuting to the city for work or play.  Together with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation, and NRG Energy Inc., Hertz is working to install a NRG’s “eVgotm” branded charging stations in Union Station.  There are plans to add Electric Vehicles to additional locations in the Washington, D.C. metro region in the near future, including Hertz Local Edition rental car locations and select hotels. 

 This is an ingenious way to expose the consumer to electric vehicles.  It is quite a commitment to buy any new car, but to purchase a brand new technology is a leap of faith.  This program allows consumers to drive the vehicles and become comfortable with them.  If it works, these folks will share their experience with others. 

 To book an available EV, consumers can sign up for a free Hertz car sharing membership at www.connectbyhertz.com. Hertz plans to deploy of EVs and PHEVs in both the U.S. and other countries throughout 2011.  As the world’s largest general-use airport car-rental brand, Hertz is uniquely positioned to introduce multiple groups of consumers – urban drivers, university students, travelers and corporations – to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As part of its strategy, Hertz is forming partnerships with manufacturers, charging station providers, municipalities, NGO’s, corporations and other stakeholders. To date, the company has ordered vehicles from GM, Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, and is working with Starwood Hotels, NRG and other companies to build out further EV infrastructure.

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