Customers now can rent electric vehicles (EV) from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 11 California cities. EVs and charging stations were added to rental locations in Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Encino, Newport Beach and Riverside.

Enterprise already offers EVs in California at branches in Ontario, Pasadena, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks, and operates the largest network of EV rentals in the state. With more than 5,500 car rental locations within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise is uniquely positioned to introduce drivers to EV technology.

Santa Barbara

The Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council’s Plug In Santa Barbara group is leading the charging station installation efforts in the Santa Barbara area. Supported by a group of cities, businesses and utilities, the group plans to have 50 charging stations installed in Santa Barbara County by the end of 2011 and is developing an EV Readiness Plan for the Central Coast. 

“The addition of electric vehicles to Enterprise’s downtown Santa Barbara rental location helps move us toward our goal of providing residents and visitors with sustainable transportation options,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider. “EVs are a huge step forward environmentally, as they average 100 mpg equivalent, produce zero tailpipe emissions, and reduce greenhouse gas pollution by 75 percent on California’s green grid.”

Palm Springs

Another community active in the advancement of electric vehicle infrastructure and adoption is Palm Springs, California. City of Palm Springs Sustainability Director Michele Mician was the first renter of the local Enterprise’s Nissan LEAF.

“With partners like Enterprise, we are educating the community about electric vehicles and other alternative fuel technologies that decrease carbon emissions and further our urban sustainability and mobility goals,” said Mician. “Providing sustainable transportation options to our visitors and residents is incredibly valuable, and we are lucky to have innovative companies like Enterprise leading the way in our City.”

“We’re focusing much of our electric vehicle rental rollout efforts in California due to the state’s commitment to EV infrastructure development,” said Lee Broughton, head of corporate sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental, and this week put out its inaugural Corporate Sustainability Report. “Our customers can experience the ultimate test drive when renting a vehicle. With the largest network of car rental locations, Enterprise is a key part of the value chain, helping manufacturers conduct hundreds of thousands of test drives that are essential to the adoption of new technologies like EVs.”

EV rentals from Enterprise are available in California, Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, Portland, Seattle, Hawaii and New York. Enterprise locations in Florida, Arizona and other states will also offer EVs in the coming weeks. Enterprise currently rents Nissan LEAFs and Chevy Volt EVs and does not charge a refueling fee for vehicles returned without a full charge.

Enterprise’s focus on sustainable vehicle technology led it to join the Electrification Coalition in 2010 and the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Clean Cities” National Clean Fleets Partnership this year.

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