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Who Has the Largest Hybrid Fleet? Enterprise Does!
Enterprise Rent a Car, which has the largest rental fleet in the United States, has introduced an extensive green initiative in an attempt to set a standard in the vehicle rental industry. This includes the introduction of a large number of gas/electric hybrids in addition to a fleet of high efficiency gasoline and flex fuel vehicles.
Enterprise currently boasts the largest fleet of hybrid rentals, with 4,000 available nationwide. This is still a relatively small percentage of their 1.1 million large total fleet. Still, numbers are expected to increase due to competition in the market. Hertz is in the process of introducing 3,400 hybrids to its fleet and Avis already offers 2,500 hybrids.
Enterprise has also expanded its rental fleet to offer a variety of hybrid vehicles. The fleet features the Toyota Prius and larger Camry hybrid, as well as the Ford Escape hybrid and the Saturn VUE. By offering a variety of hybrid options, Enterprise is trying to satisfying customers in several vehicle classes.
Currently, Enterprise has the largest number of fuel efficient vehicles, with 47 percent achieving an average efficiency of 28 miles per gallon, of any rental company in the world. A third of Enterprise’s fleet achieve the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay certification, granted to vehicles that produce relatively low levels of pollutants and emissions.
In addition to emphasizing exceptionally efficient vehicles with gasoline engines, Enterprise has initiated an extensive flex fuel program. These vehicles can use either standard gasoline or a mixture of ethanol and gasoline. Most can use E85 fuel, which consists of a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. These vehicles significantly reduce the driver’s consumption of gasoline and produce fewer emissions than standard gasoline only engines.
With fuel prices expected to rise above $4 per gallon this summer, customer demand for hybrid vehicles is projected to increase dramatically. While companies agree that the budget driven consumer will likely avoid hybrids due to higher rental fees, a growing number of environmentally conscious renters are driving the hybrid rental trend. Analysts point out that it is consumer demand that influences fleet expansion, so the high gas prices of the summer and steadily increasing concern over the environment may very well serve as a catalyst for extensive expansion of hybrid fleets for Enterprise and competitors.
The company’s announced plans to introduce new “green branches,” at which 60% of available vehicles will be hybrid or high efficiency vehicles, is likely a reflection of this growing concer over fuel efficiency. The first four of these branches have opened in Atlanta and the company is looking to expand the program if it matches customer demand.
Offering high efficiency and hybrid vehicles is not the only green initiative Enterprise has undertaken. The company has also announced a program to plant 50 million trees over the next 50 years. The program, in cooperation with the National Arbor Day Foundation and National Forest Service, will cost a total of $50 million. Enterprise says that the program is a reflection of their devotion to restoring deforested areas of the United States and their long-term commitment to preserving public lands.
The increasing popularity of hybrid vehicles, along with greater concerns over fuel prices and the environmental impact of driving, has led rental companies to expand the number of high efficiency and hybrid vehicles in their fleets. Enterprise is at the head of this movement, establishing the largest fleet of hybrid vehicles in the country.
Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
September 20th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Dear Sir Madame
I’m looking froward to rent a car in Florida this november. It is so hard to find a company wich rents some of those cars!
Can you help me? Pickup and dropoff in Miami. Timeperiode 11/03/09 – 11/22/09
Kind regards
Benno Meisser