HONOLULU, HI–(Marketwire – August 21, 2009) - Enterprise Rent-A-Car is designating four rental locations in Hawai’i as “hybrid branches” — part of an ongoing nationwide effort that includes nearly 100 rental locations in 30 major markets across the U.S. The designated “hybrid branches” have a higher concentration of hybrids available and customers will be able to reserve these hybrids online or by phone.

Enterprise made the announcement today at a press conference hosted by Gov. Linda Lingle and the Hawai’i Department of Transportation at the Hawai’i Convention Center, as part of Hawai’i's celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Statehood, commemorating the state’s rich history as well as its plans for a sustainable future.

Enterprise is home to the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. The designation of the hybrid locations in Hawai’i is part of a larger effort that added nearly 5,000 hybrid vehicles to the company’s nationwide fleet earlier this year. Hybrids have a number of environmental benefits, including better fuel economy, less fuel consumption and fewer emissions than traditional vehicles.

The four hybrid branches are located at:

• Honolulu: 677 Ala Moana Blvd., #101
• Kailua: 345 Hahani St.
• Maui: 40 Hana Highway, Kahului
• Waikiki: 1778 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 202

“The ability to choose an environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient vehicle is important to many of our customers here in Hawai’i,” said Paul Kopel, vice president and general manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Hawai’i. “Increasing the number of hybrid vehicles in our fleet means customers can reserve them online from our hybrid branches, making the process that much more convenient.”

Nationwide, Enterprise operates nearly 100 hybrid locations, including at the 10 busiest airports for business travelers in the United States, as well as rental offices in the following markets: California (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno); New York (Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester); Colorado (Denver, Boulder); Florida (Orlando, Tampa); Oregon (Eugene, Portland); Texas (Austin, Dallas, Houston); Virginia (Newport News, Roanoke, Richmond, Norfolk); Atlanta; Boston; Detroit; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; St. Louis; Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Use the banner below to get the best hybrid rental deals.

“As we strive to build a cleaner, more sustainable Hawai’i, we welcome opportunities to work with the business community to offer more options to our local communities. Increasing the number of hybrid vehicles in Hawai’i — along with the benefits they bring in terms of lower fuel consumption and fewer greenhouse gas emissions — are an important step toward our preferred future,” said Sen. J. Kalani English, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Transportation, International and Intergovernmental Affairs and Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment.

Customers can reserve a hybrid from any of the designated “hybrid branch” rental locations online at www.enterprise.com or by calling 1-800-RENT-A-CAR. In Hawai’i, customers can choose hybrids such as the Honda Civic and Insight, or the Toyota Prius.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s investment in more hybrid vehicles is an important, positive step toward a more sustainable future for our community. This is a great example of how much there is to gain from working with the private sector to increase sustainable transportation options throughout the state,” said House Speaker Calvin Say.

Maui County Mayor Charmaine Tavares said, “Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s hybrid branches provide another practical way for residents and visitors alike to be ‘greener’ in their daily lives. I’m thrilled with Enterprise’s ongoing investment in sustainable transportation and ‘green’ living options to create a more sustainable Maui.”

Enterprise, which has served customers in Hawai’i since 1994, has grown to 20 home-city branches throughout the state, and five airport locations in Hilo, Kona, Honolulu, Maui and Lihue, Kauai. The local branches employ 180 local full-time employees; 102 of those attended local colleges and universities.

The designation of hybrid branches nationwide continues Enterprise’s environmental commitment to growing the market for alternative fuels and technologies. Enterprise Holdings, which owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental brands, has the industry’s most comprehensive environmental sustainability platform that includes:

• Embracing new, clean technologies – In addition to the focus on hybrids, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has designated eight “E85/FlexFuel” branches where as much as 30 percent of the local fleets are FlexFuel vehicles capable of using E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline). In addition, Enterprise fuels those vehicles from nearby E85 fueling stations.
• The world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles – Nearly 450,000 cars in the combined Alamo, Enterprise and National fleet average a highway fuel efficiency rating of at least 28 mpg or better; nearly 230,000 average 32 mpg or better; and nearly 425,000 have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay certification mark — a distinction the EPA grants to vehicles that emit relatively low levels of both regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases such as CO2.
• Customer Carbon Offsets – Alamo, Enterprise and National customers can offset the CO2 emissions of their rental cars by opting to pay $1.25 per rental to fund certified offset projects through TerraPass. The company’s charitable foundation will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million. In the first year, the carbon offset program generated $440,000 and offset 42,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
• Research – In 2007, the company’s owners, the Taylor family of St. Louis, donated $25 million to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, where top scientists are working on alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.
• Conservation – The company’s charitable foundation has pledged $50 million to plant 50 million trees over 50 years through the 50 Million Tree Pledge, a public/private/nonprofit partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. Trees are being planted on public lands in the U.S., Canada and Europe.

All told, over the past several years Enterprise Holdings and the Taylor family have contributed or pledged more than $120 million to environmental initiatives. For more information about the full environmental platform, visit www.keystogreen.com.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founded in 1957 and headquartered in St. Louis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand operating neighborhood and airport rental locations in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Germany. In addition, Enterprise of North America is part of a global strategic alliance with Europcar, creating the world’s largest car rental network.

Enterprise, which has more than 5,000 neighborhood branch offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, picks up local customers at no extra cost. Known for its exceptionally low rates and outstanding customer service, Enterprise was named to BusinessWeek’s annual list of “Customer Service Champs” in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Enterprise also has ranked highest in customer satisfaction among airport rentals in nine of the past 10 years, according to J.D. Power and Associates Rental Car Satisfaction Study. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.com.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Enterprise Rent A Car Offers Hybrid Rentals in Hawaii

Hybrid cars continue to rise in popularity across the nation. Because of their reputation as fuel-efficient, easy to drive vehicles, hybrid car rental availability has also gone up every year. But are these cars really a better option than conventional cars? The truth is that when all the benefits of a hybrid are weighed against those of a conventional car, the answer is “not necessarily.” Here are a few reasons to not rent a hybrid car.

Increased Fuel Economy?

One of the biggest reasons travelers cite to renting a hybrid car is to save on fuel costs. Because hybrids get more out of each gallon of gas than conventional cars do, one may be led to believe that the slightly greater daily cost will be outweighed by the savings in gasoline. But this is, in fact, not true in many cases. Because most people tend to drive less than a hundred miles per day with a rental car, the savings from using a hybrid are minimal. Really, the only time hybrid cars provide significant savings is if you drive the car in extended stop-and-go urban environment, or on long trips.

Hybrid Rental Rates Remain High

Hybrid cars do cost more per day in rental fees. Because they are more expensive to purchase in the first place, car rental companies have to charge more for those who want to rent them. Even with competition driving down dealer prices for new hybrid cars, hybrid rental rates remain high in the premium range. So without the savings in fuel making up for the difference, renting a hybrid car could mean paying extra money to drive on your next trip.

Learning to Drive a Hybrid in an Unfamiliar City

Additionally, hybrid cars drive very differently than normal cars. For drivers who are already experienced in driving a hybrid, this is not a problem. But to first-timers, hybrid rental cars will seem to have lighter weight, have different controls, and have their own quirks. One such “quirk” is a idle-top feature that are built into many modern hybrids. Idle-stop allows the car engine to shut down at a stoplight or stop sign (whenever the car is at a stop,) thereby cutting down on fuel consumption. This is well and good, but a small problem with this is that hybrid car renters often find themselves in a new location they have never been to before. And while trying out a new car in a familiar area may work out fine, driving a new hybrid in a new city can be challenging for many people. The last thing you want when trying to fumble over maps is to have a car shut off unexpectedly or to  brake differently.

In fact, this instability could lead to unsafe situations. The easiest way to get into an accident is to combine a lack of direction with confusion from driving a new car. And once you put yourself in harm’s way on the road, you are not only risking your own well-being, but also the well-being of others. Stick to what you are comfortable with and stay safe. It’s more important than saving a few bucks on gas, if any.

Non-Hybrid, High MPG Alternatives Are Available

All carmakers now manufacture smaller, highly efficient, non-hybrid car models as well, and car rental companies are making them available for rent, without the premium rental rates. Modern smaller cars, including the economy and compact sizes, are safe, efficient and very reliable. They also come with all the expected amenities such air conditioning, automatic transmission, stereo radio with CD player, many with ABS and airbags. Additionally, companies like Enterprise and Hertz have Carbon Offset programs so that, no matter what a traveler selects to rent, he/she can still participate in helping the environment.

In summary, hybrid cars are the creation of a movement to stop global warming and improve the environment as a whole. As an idea, they are terrific and are the first of hopefully many steps in creating cars that are not dependent on fossil fuels. But as a rental option, they can be cumbersome and a bad choice for many people at least until hybrids are becoming more mainstream. Higher costs, a steep learning curve, and use in unfamiliar territories can lead to unwanted situations. So if you think you’re not ready to rent a hybrid rental car, you’re probably not.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Reasons Why You Should Not Rent a Hybrid Car During Your Travel

Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering 15% off daily rates now until June 15th. This type of offer does not come around very often so this is a great deal to catch. With this special offer, it makes great sense to check out a rental hybrid car!

Also don’t miss the ongoing 50% off weekend deal.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car is the largest car rental company in North America with over 6,900 locations worldwide.
• Enterprise has over 700,000 vehicles in its fleet and their locations are positioned less than 15 miles from 90% of the U.S. population.
• Enterprise website allows visitors to reserve a car in US, Canada, Ireland, Germany and the U.K. This includes over 200 airport locations as well as the branch in your hometown.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Enterprise Rent-A-Car 15% Off Daily Rates Until June 15th

From Enterprise April 28, 2009 Press Release.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Doubles Number of Hybrids in Fleet; Establishes ‘Hybrid Branches’ at Four Virginia Airports

Customers Can Reserve Hybrids at Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond and Roanoke Airports Online or by Phone; High Demand for Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Sparks Increased Availability, Convenience

RICHMOND, VA–(Marketwire – April 28, 2009) – Enterprise Rent-A-Car is designating four airport rental locations in Virginia as “hybrid branches” — part of a broader move that adds nearly 5,000 additional gas/electric hybrids to its nationwide fleet. The designated “hybrid branches” have a high concentration of the new hybrids available and customers will be able to reserve these hybrids online or by phone.
Enterprise already was home to the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. The addition of nearly 5,000 hybrid vehicles more than doubles the number of hybrids the company owns. Hybrids can achieve greater fuel economy, use less gasoline and have fewer emissions than traditional vehicles.
Across Virginia, the hybrid branches are located at:

• Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
• Norfolk International Airport
• Richmond International Airport
• Roanoke Regional Airport

Read more at Marketwire’s “Enterprise Rent-A-Car Doubles Number of Hybrids in Fleet; Establishes ‘Hybrid Branches’ at Four Virginia Airports.”

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Founded in 1957 and headquartered in St. Louis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand with the largest fleet of passenger vehicles in the world today, more than 700,000 cars and trucks. Enterprise also operates a network of 7,000 neighborhood and airport rental locations in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland and Germany. Enterprise of North America is part of a global strategic alliance with Europcar, creating the world’s largest car rental network.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Doubles Number of Hybrids in Fleet

Thrifty has very limited hybrid rental cars available at their airport locations. Even at San Francisco International Airport, it’s tough to find a Prius to rent from Thrity.

Thrifty Car Rental, not really one of the nation’s major rental car companies, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, a publicly traded company. Thrifty Car Rental and Dollar Rent A Car were formed in 1990 by Chrysler itself. The company rents mostly Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars in the United States. A quick check on Thrifty website also indicates other cars can be rented including the MINI Cooper S, the Hummer H2, the Ford Focus and even Ford vans, but they’re highly dependent on airport rental locations.

If you’re lucky, and if Thrifty decides to offer hybrids for rent at other locations, here’s what you do. Thrifty classifies the Prius as “Compact 2-4 Door.” So you’ll need to specify this car type while checking rates and availability, otherwise you can waste a lot of time looking around and clicking on “See More Cars.”

But you’re super lucky if you land at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This is probably the only place in the U.S. that you can find a rental hybrid.

Here are some typical rates of renting a hybrid Prius from Thrifty at LAX. As we normally do with our other hybrid rental rate surveys, we took a look at three different rental rates for hybrid cars:

• a one-day rental (pick up on Monday and return next day); pick up June 15 and return June 16, 2009.
• a weekend rental (pick up on Friday and return on Monday); pick up June 19 and return June 22, 2009.
• a one-week rental (pick up on Monday and return the following Monday.); pick up June 15 and return June 22, 2009.

Here are some results. Note that taxes, surcharges and fees are not included in these rates, which could add more than $30 per day to the base rate.

Thifty one-day rental rate. June 15-16-2009: $114.59 per day for Toyota Prius.

Thifty weekend rental rate, May 19-22-2009: Average $105.49 per day for Toyota Prius, which is $316.47 for the weekend.

Thifty one-week rental rate. May 15-22-2009: Average $80.36 per day for Toyota Prius, which is $562.52 for the week.

Have you rented a hybrid from Thrifty? Share your experience with us.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Thrifty Car Rental – Finding a Hybrid Rental Car Can Be Tough

One of two brands owned by Enterprise Rent A Car, Alamo Rent A Car shares the company’s commitment to fuel economy, alternative fuels, and alternative technologies. Enterprise Rent A Car, which also owns National Rent A Car, stresses its commitment to fairness, honesty, and transparency in all of its pricing policies and business practices. The combination of these two major corporate commitments has driven the Enterprise group, already the industry leader, miles ahead of any of its competitors.

The Toyota Prius is the only hybrid car available for rent in the United States as noted on Alamo.com’s website. A quick survey of the website yields the following information for renting a Toyota Prius hybrid from Alamo.

As we normally do with our other hybrid rental car surveys, we took a look at three different rental rates for hybrid cars:

• a one-day rental (pick up on Monday and return next day),
• a weekend rental (pick up on Friday and return on Monday), and
• a one-week rental (pick up on Monday and return the following Monday.)

The survey covers San Francisco and San Diego, CA on the West Coast. Several attempts to reserve a hybrid at airports outside of California yielded availability of non-hybrid cars only. Specific dates in May 2009 were selected to obtain the availability information and rental rates. Your own itinerary will dictate availability and rates at the time of your inquiry.

Alamo Hybrid Rental Car Rates at San Francisco Airport

1. Alamo one-day rental rate, with prepay savings. May 11-12-2009: $177.95 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.
2. Alamo weekend rental rate, May 15-18-2009: Average $124.40 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.
3. Alamo one-week rental rate,with prepay savings, May 11-18-2009: Average $134.02 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.

Note that you could save from $10 to $15 with prepay savings so be sure to select these options when reserving. 

Alamo Hybrid Rental Car Rates at San Diego Airport

1. Alamo one-day rental rate, with prepay savings. May 11-12-2009: $105.47 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.
2. Alamo weekend rental rate, May 15-18-2009: Average $57.45 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.
3. Alamo one-week rental rate,with prepay savings, May 11-18-2009: Average $81.96 per day for Toyota Prius. Taxes, surcharges and fees are included.

Again you could save from $10 to $15 with prepay savings so be sure to select these options when reserving.

So it looks like you can rent hybrid cars from Alamo only in California (Alamo’s Los Angeles, Sacramento and Oakland airport locations have hybrid cars), and rental rates vary widely depending on your destination. At least in San Francisco International Airport, Hertz and Avis seem to have better rates for renting hybrid cars.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Alamo Rent A Car: Hybrid Rental Cars in California Airport Destinations

Although Enterprise still leads in fleet size, Hertz Rent A Car has rapidly closed the gap, increasing its total count of hybrid rental cars to nearly 5000, up from just 1200 at the middle of 2007. Hertz now has hybrid rental cars available at 50 of the major airports in the United States and at most of its major international destinations. The airport leader also guarantees reservations on 3400 of its hybrid rental cars in markets with greatest demand.

Since the tourist industry generally, and the rental car industry particularly, went eco-crazy beginning about 2007, the largest rental car companies have raced to catch up with Enterprise, the leader in hybrid rental cars and fuel friendly vehicles. Recognizing and responding to customers’ overwhelming demand for vehicles which run on alternative fuels and alternative technologies, most all of the industry main players rapidly have beefed up their fleets of hybrid rental cars. Even so, in major markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Chicago, they still barely meet the demand. Most could not guarantee reservations of hybrid car rentals until their fleets swelled over 5000 vehicles.

Like all the industry leaders, Hertz has acquired thousands of Toyota Prius hybrid and Nissan Altima hybrid rental cars, which the company advertises in its “Green Collection.” The Hertz Green Collection also features Ford Fusion, Toyota Corolla and Camry. Cars belong to the Green Collection by virtue of their EPA estimated combined mileage of 28mpg or more. Hertz promotes the entire Green Collection as “fuel efficient, environmentally-friendly cars that are both easy on the wallet and suitable for families and small groups traveling together.”  Hertz, ironically, gained a slight advantage from being half-a-step behind its competitors. Because they analyzed the other companies’ demographic data about hybrid rental cars, they can develop their ad campaigns precisely according to the needs and wants of the hybrid car rental market.

Hertz also benefitted from hybrid pioneers’ experience as it chose the hybrid models it wanted to include in its Green Collection. With only two models on the menu, Hertz has the industry’s least diversified list, though these are by far the two most reliable models available on the American market. Toyota Prius has proven amazingly dependable under even the most demanding road and traffic conditions; and Nissan Altima has surprised many Nissan skeptics, holding up to hundreds of thousands of rough miles in difficult urban areas.

Hertz executives, like their colleagues at all the other major hybrid car rental companies, cite customer’s lack of familiarity with hybrids as their biggest source of concern. Many customers choose a hybrid car rental so that they can test-drive one of the better models while they travel on business, and make a decision about later purchase on the basis of their experience with the rental.

The drawback is renters don’t always understand the Toyota Prius, technically a “full hybrid,” which can run on electricity only. When the car runs on just electricity, the Prius is so quiet that drivers often do not realize the engine is on or off. First-time hybrid drivers also have new things to learn about the regenerative braking system, which recoups energy back into the battery pack when the car slows down. Combining all this with the possibility of driving in a city for the first time, one can see potential problems with frustration and even safety.

Now, as they deliver the keys to hybrid rental cars customers, most Hertz customer service agents take a few minutes to explain how the Prius hybrid system behaves. For driving at low speeds, the battery pack powers the Prius directly through the electric motor. During acceleration and higher speeds, the engine plays a key role in powering the drive motor through a generator, while recharging the battery pack as needed. And during braking, the electric motor becomes a generator, slowing the vehicle momentum by converting vehicle speed back into electric energy to store in the battery pack. These few minutes devoted to hybrid 101 have huge impact on customers’ experience with Hertz’s hybrid rental cars.

Hertz has yet to announce plans for adding other models or other manufacturers to its hybrid rental car offerings, but it has outlined plans to continue building its stock of hybrids to nearly 10,000 by the middle of 2010.

Here’s a quick check on Hertz’s website for rates of renting hybrid cars for a week in mid May, 2009, picking up and returning to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). For the Toyota Prius Hybrid, this works out to be $109.48 per day, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid, $104.24 per day.

Hertz has very few off-airport locations. The company’s business has always depended on dominating the airport market, especially appealing to time-crunched business travelers at mid-week. Hertz customers pay for the luxury of convenience. Other leading companies advertise Prius and Altima hybrids at between $90 and $100 per day. So Hertz’s rates to rent hybrid cars are very competitive. Visit Hertz.com to check out their hybrid rental car availability.

Have experience renting hybrid cars from Hertz? Share your suggestions with us with your comments below.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Hertz Rent a Car: a Big and Competitive Player in Hybrid Car Rentals

Keeping up with and fending off its fiercest rivals in an industry suddenly obsessed with all things “green,” Avis now offers hybrid rental cars. During the summer of 2007, Avis caught the first wave of hybrid mania, building the core of its fleet of hybrid rental cars by introducing more than 1000 Toyota Prius hybrid models in its major markets.

The hybrid car rental math works out to consumers’ benefit, because hybrid cars like the Prius average upwads of 50 miles per gallon (mpg). Although hybrid car rentals average $10 to $15 more per day than their conventional engine counterparts, fuel savings more than offset the slightly higher rate. If a Prius renter drives just 500 miles, he or she will save up to $30 in fuel costs, even when fuel prices hover below $2.50 per gallon.

Late in 2007, Avis added 1000 Nissan Altimas Hybrid to its fleet of hybrid rental cars, but it made them available only in California where demand remains highest by a considerable margin. A standard mid-size sedan, the Nissan Altima Hybrid offers considerably more passenger room than the Toyota Prius, and it has a lot more trunk space. Because of its larger size, longer and wider wheel base, the Nissan Altima rides smoother than the Prius, and customers say it drives like the best European Touring sedans.

Meanwhile, throughout 2007, Avis continued acquiring Prius hybrids, making them more readily available in all the nation’s major markets, and growing the fleet to the point that its agents could guarantee availability of hybrid rental cars at all of Avis’s major outlets. By the middle of 2008, Enterprise Rent-A-Car operated a fleet of more than 3,000 hybrid rental cars, which complement its 41,000 flex-fuel cars and light trucks.

Like Hertz, which dominates the airport market, Avis focused its acquisitions on the Toyota Prius, arguably the best-engineered and definitely the most popular of all the hybrids on the American market. Equipping their Prius hybrid rental cars with customers’ favorite amenities-air conditioning, automatic transmission, and AM/FM stereo with CD player-Avis expects to capitalize on Prius’s popularity among younger drivers and eco-conscious families.

Not surprisingly, demand for Avis hybrid rental cars remains strongest throughout California, where gas prices consistently have stayed at least a dime above the national averages. In the San Francisco Bay Area, where economy, traffic congestion, and sky-high gas prices combine to make Avis hybrid rental cars an extremely attractive alternative even to bargain-basement sub-compacts, demand for Avis Prius models has remained steady.

In the greater New York City area, where the cost of everything is higher than anywhere else, demand for Avis hybrid rental cars also has outstripped demand for all other small economy cars.

A quick check on Avis website finds the following rates for the Toyota Prius. One weekday rental in mid May 2009 from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will cost you $160.99. Add $55.96 of taxes and surcharges and you’re up to $216.95 per day. That’s pretty steep for one day rental. On the other hand, a week’s rental of the Prius in mid May, 2009 will cost $564.99 and with taxes and surcharges the total comes out to $717.45, or just under $102.50 per day. Regardless of which car you rent from Avis, you can use the links below to get great discounts for hybrid car rentals.

Toyota wholeheartedly embraced Avis’s addition of Prius to its hybrid rental cars, expressing confidence that rental customers would like the way the Prius feels and handles, and they especially would appreciate dramatic savings on gas consumption. Toyota executives confidently predicted Avis hybrid rental cars’ popularity would drive their sales, and preliminary market research has confirmed their predictions.

As the Avis hybrid fleet has expanded and demands remain high, it is expected that rental rates will continue to come down. Going into spring and summer 2009, the average rate for a Prius will probably continue to run at about $95 per day; insurance and local charges would drive the average to just about $100 as noted above. Market analysts say more and more business travelers and tourists willingly will pay the slightly higher rates for hybrid rental cars, because they understand how fuel economy contributes to overall savings, and because they recognize how hybrids help reduce greenhouse gases and save precious fossil fuels.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Avis Committed to Provide Hybrid Rental Cars to Travelers

Take advantage of all deals Enterprise has to offer and use the links below to get great discounts for hybrid car rentals.

• Free Upgrade On Your Next Airport Rental With Enterprise Rent-A-Car!
• 50% Off Weekend Rentals at Enterprise.com! Most Cars. Most Weekends. Most Neighborhood Locations.

Edited 04-03-09. Early in February, 2009, Enterprise Rent-A-Car announced plans to double its fleet of hybrid rental cars, adding 5000 cars and small SUVs, and making them available to eco-conscious motorists at nearly eighty “hybrid branches” nationwide. Enterprises specifically designated “hybrid branches” specialize in new-hybrid car rentals, and they offer customers the convenience of reserving their hybrid cars either online or by phone.

Enterprise already boasts the industry’s largest fleet of fuel efficient vehicles: three-quarters of the Enterprise fleet get 28 mpg or more, and more than 25% are rated at 32mpg or more. Enterprise also sponsors a carbon offset program. For every 100,000 customers who participate in the program, 30 million pounds of greenhouse emissions are taken out of the atmosphere.

Now, Enterprise takes it eco-conscious initiatives to the next level, setting the industry standard for hybrid car rentals. Enterprise will expand its hybrid car rentals in all three of its classes -”standard” hybrids, comparable with larger sub-compacts, “full size” hybrids, which comfortably will seat five passengers and carry all their gear, and “hybrid SUVs,” comparable with cross-over vehicles.

“Standard” Hybrids

Toyota Prius Hybrid, one of the most popular and best engineered hybrids on the American market, leads the “standard” class. Enterprise rents four-door models, which have room for five passengers; and all of their Prius hybrids come equipped with automatic transmission, air-conditioning, and AM/FM stereo with CD player. Daily rental rates start at $89.99 in many markets. Insurance and local charges will boost the actual cost to a little over $100. Enterprise also plans to add Nissan Altima to its standard hybrid fleet.

“Full Size” Hybrids

Toyota Camry Hybrid, the second generation of Toyota’s advanced hybrid technology, and a Kelly Blue Book Customer Favorite, leads Enterprise’s fleet of “full size” hybrids. Exceptionally comfortable and fun to drive, Enterprise’s four-door Camry hybrids all have automatic transmissions, air conditioning, and AM/FM stereos with CD players. Daily rates for Camrys start at $94.99 per day, and the Camry hybrid probably represents the best value for traveling families.

Hybrid SUVs

The Ford Escape Hybrid, arguably the finest American-made hybrid, anchors Enterprise’s fleet of SUVs. Roomy as most full-sized SUVs, the Ford Escape handles and parks far easier than a full-size, and the Escape hybrid has 40% better fuel efficiency than Ford Escapes with conventional engines. Enterprise’s Ford Escape hybrids come fully equipped with automatic transmission, tilt steering wheel and cruise control, split rear seat which folds three different ways, air conditioning and AM/FM stereo with CD player. At just $99.99 per day, the Escape hybrid is the perfect choice for vacationing families with lots of gear and serious tourists who expect to rack-up lots of miles exploring their vacation destinations.

A quick check on Enterprise’s website results in the following sampling of rates for mid-May 2009 hybrid rental availability for Tempa Airport, Tempa FL. The Camry Hybrid and Ford Escape Hybrid still look like difficult vehicles to get, given a smaller fleet than the Prius.

Daily rates, Tempa Airport, mid-May, 2009

Weekly rates, Tempa Airport, mid-May, 2009

Leading the Hybrid Rentals Bandwagon

Enterprise Hybrid Car Rentals will be available in twenty-four major US markets, including the country’s busiest airports. The most “hybrid branches” will open in California and New York, where demand for hybrid car rentals has soared in the last several years. Enterprise plans to open hybrid branches in Oregon, Texas, and Washington in future expansion. 

Enterprise executives frequently have stressed the company’s commitment to new engine technologies and development of alternative fuels for use in their rental fleet. Doubling its available hybrid car rentals, Enterprise clearly demonstrates its commitment and gives demanding customers the vehicles they want, when they want them. Meanwhile, market analysts have noticed the impact of Enterprise’s green initiatives on its bottom line; even in a seriously depressed economy, Enterprise’s bold and aggressive move into hybrid rental cars and flex-fuel vehicles of all kinds has increased its market share. In some markets, Enterprise has gained 15%, stealing customers from airport leader Hertz and customer-friendly Avis.

When Enterprise will guarantee availability of hybrid rental cars, you know they are serious about helping to clean up the environment. To check availability go directly to Enterprise’s hybrid rental cars webpage.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Hybrid Rental Car Availability: Enterprise Rent-A-Car Leaving the Competition Behind

Edited 04-03-09. Every year, millions of Americans travel across the nation. Be it for business, for a family vacation, or any other reason, car rental companies are there to help these trips more enjoyable and convenient. With the availability of hybrid rental cars being offered by more car rental companies, travelers can also maintain their environmentally clean life style as well. Oftentimes, car rental companies and the airport authority themselves join forces in collaboration to promote clean transportation in and around busy airports in the form of discounts or reduced fees for those who rent hybrid cars.

For frequent flyers and not so frequent flyers, here is a list of the ten airports in the United States with commitment green hybrid car rental movement.

As one might be able to tell by the list, the Western states, along with the biggest cities in the nation, have taken charge in becoming more environmentally-responsible. But even the smallest of airports are working towards making more hybrid rental cars available to travelers each year.

Post from: Airport Hybrid Rentals

Top 10 U.S. Airports Where You Can Rent Hybrid Cars