-- Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
-- Norfolk International Airport
-- Richmond International Airport
-- Roanoke Regional Airport
Nationwide, the new hybrids are available at nearly 100 locations in
approximately 30 major markets, including the 10 busiest airports for
business travelers in the United States. Markets include 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);
Atlanta; Boston; Detroit; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; St. Louis; Seattle and
Washington, D.C.
Customers will be able to choose from hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota
Prius. Local rental rates start at $48.00 per day but will vary according
to market conditions; rates also will vary at locations throughout the
country.
"Whether they're traveling for business or pleasure, our customers continue
to seek out environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient vehicle options,"
said Brian Duffy, vice president and general manager for Enterprise
Rent-A-Car in Virginia. "Doubling our fleet of hybrid vehicles nationally
and making more of them available in Virginia is in direct response to that
demand. This move also furthers our commitment to help grow the market for
new engine technologies and alternative fuels."
Customers can reserve a hybrid at any of the designated "hybrid branch"
rental locations online at www.enterprise.com or by calling
1-800-RENT-A-CAR.
The designation of hybrid branches nationwide continues Enterprise's
environmental commitment to growing the market for alternative fuels and
technologies. The Enterprise family of companies, which is owned by the
Taylor family and includes the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental
and Alamo Rent A Car brands, has the industry's most comprehensive
environmental sustainability platform that includes:
-- Embracing new, clean technologies -- In addition to the focus on
hybrids, Enterprise 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 a nearby E85 fueling
station.
-- The world's largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles -- Nearly 450,000
cars in the combined Enterprise, National and Alamo 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 -- Enterprise, National and Alamo 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 Taylor family 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 the Taylor family and their companies
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 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.
As North America's largest car rental company, Enterprise is known for its
exceptionally low rates, neighborhood convenience and its outstanding
service, including picking up local customers at no extra cost. Ranked No.
18 on the Forbes Top 500 Private Companies in America, Enterprise has
branch offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S.
population. In addition, Enterprise has ranked highest in customer
satisfaction among airport rentals in nine out 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.
Contact Information: For more information, contact: Lisa Martini Enterprise Rent-A-Car 314-512-2352 Becky Vollmer Fleishman-Hillard 314-982-9198