Hertz introduces CNG vehicle rentals in US; Civics and Yukons

The Hertz Corporation is introducing compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles to its fleet in the US. Hertz will begin renting eight CNG Honda Civics and two CNG GMC Yukons at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City early next month. All vehicles will include NeverLost GPS units to assist renters in mapping local CNG refueling stations.

Oklahoma City is serving as a pilot program for Hertz’s CNG airport rentals program. In addition to having significant CNG fueling infrastructure across the state—approximately 70 existing or planned public stations—Oklahoma is also home to several of the top natural gas producers in the country, including Chesapeake Energy Corporation.

Last year, Hertz introduced the addition of CNG vehicles through Hertz On Demand at Oklahoma State University. Hertz also deploys CNG airport buses at its Los Angeles Airport location and rents CNG vehicles in both Italy and the United Kingdom.

Hertz is committed to providing our customers with a full spectrum of vehicle options to suit their rental needs including clean emission vehicles such as CNG, electric vehicles, as well as other fuel-efficient vehicles included in our Green Traveler Collection. As more low emission, fuel efficient vehicles become available for general use we will continue to expand our rental fleet, reflecting our dedication to offering sustainable travel options.

—Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and CEO

The new vehicles will be on display at the Oklahoma City Thunder’s home game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday, April 11. In conjunction with the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Green Week, an NBA initiative for environmental awareness, Hertz will also be raffling off 10 weekend CNG vehicle rentals to game attendees.

The expansion of energy-efficient and clean vehicles stems from the launch of Living Journey, Hertz’s global sustainability strategy announced earlier this year.

CNG is a cleaner-burning fuel, emitting up to 30% less carbon dioxide and up to 75% less carbon monoxide. The fuel also typically costs half the price of gasoline and is produced domestically.

Source: Green Car Congress

Miami Beach and Hertz Bring Car-Sharing to Florida

The City of Miami Beach loves attention. It was the first to bring a bike sharing program to South Florida with DECOBIKE, and now it has partnered with Hertz to offer “Hertz On Demand,” the first car-sharing program for a municipality (the service is already available at Florida International University, among others). The partnership kicked off yesterday with much fanfare, speeches, and assertions of awesomeness from everyone involved. After all that, it’s really just a baby step toward reducing congestion: Hertz is offering 20 cars in eight garages scattered around the city, with one hybrid option for now. If the program is successful, it will offer 100 vehicles.

Customers must rent the cars in advance online on wwww.Hertzondemand.com, so it’s convenient except that you have to wait for the fob to be mailed to you; then you can get to the keys in the car and go. There is no annual membership fee and no trial period for membership, unlike competitor Zipcar. Renters can also make one-way car trips, a major advantage over ZipCar and other car-sharing services where people must return the car to the place they picked it up. Rates start at $9.00 the hour, and start at $63 a day. The cost of gas, insurance, and 24/7 roadside assistance are included (they place a gas card under the sun visor), as are the first 180 miles within a 24 hour period. There is a $250 insurance deductible.

Someone at Hertz read the writing on the wall back in 2011 and they began capitalizing on the car-sharing trend, hoping for great publicity and profit. What they’ve come up with works- somewhat. Check out their Facebook page and you’ll see customers demanding that Hertz iron out some major kinks. Still, they’re cleverly offering to buy people’s membership cards to competitor’s driving programs: “Join Hertz On Demand for FREE and we’ll give you enough driving credits to cover the cost of your annual car share membership fee and then some. Just mail us your membership card from any US car share competitor and we’ll give you $75 in driving credits to try Hertz On Demand!” I might be tempted to keep my mine. Partly because I’m partial to something a little different, a little like RelayRide- a car-sharing program where people can make money from renting out their cars and reduce congestion.

What’s in it for the City?

It is notoriously difficult to drive around or find parking in Miami Beach, day or night. Many a woman has felt the keen agony of walking to a night club in heels from a parking garage too many blocks away. So, in theory, the Hertz program frees locals who rarely use a car from having to buy one, and therefore frees up parking spaces and congestion. The driving situation is so bad in the City that not even 100 Hertz cars will make a dent. But, at least the City is leasing parking spaces to Hertz for $75; not too shabby. Hertz will also pay Miami Beach a portion of its gross revenue: 0.50% in Year 3, 0.75% in Year 4, and 1% in Year 5, according to the City of Miami Beach press release.

Source: Gas2.0

Hertz Adds Five Transit Connect Electric Vans to Its Fleet

PRESS RELEASE

The Hertz Corporation (NYSE: HTZ), the world's largest general use airport car rental brand, and Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) ("Azure"), a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for light and medium commercial vehicles, today jointly announced the addition of the innovative Ford Transit Connect Electric van into Hertz's fleet, a first for the car rental industry. The five Hertz units will be deployed mid-November at multiple locations as part of Hertz Entertainment Services and Hertz on Demand car sharing.

"Hertz Entertainment Services and Hertz on Demand customers have unique vehicle needs and the Transit Connect Electric is a perfect fit for customers looking for the latest in mobility solutions while also achieving best in class sustainability practices," commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect to deploy the Transit Connect Electric in our B to B programs for customers who need a light duty van with a high degree of cargo capacity as a part of their fleet solutions."

"Since launching last year, a broad cross-section of businesses including utilities, delivery companies and even law firms have used the Transit Connect Electric to green their fleets," said Nancy Gioia, director of global electrification, Ford Motor Company. "With its new Transit Connect Electric fleet, Hertz will allow even more businesses in a variety of new industries to experience 100 percent electric and zero-emissions driving."

"The value-add of working with a marquee rental company like Hertz is that multiple end-users will get behind the wheel and experience our Transit Connect Electric first hand," said Scott Harrison, Azure Dynamics CEO. "Although driving performance and cargo versatility will be familiar compared to the conventional product, our Force Drive(TM) powertrain runs entirely on electricity, producing zero tailpipe emissions, and will likely be the first electric drive experience for many of Hertz customers."

According to independent data, rental car companies collectively operate approximately 1.63 million vehicles in the United States. As the economy gains traction, it is expected that U.S. rental companies will add vehicles to their fleets including fuel efficient 'green' vehicles.

Hertz Entertainment Services rents vehicles to various studios and entertainment companies that often choose to rent vehicles during periods of increased activity. Hertz On Demand is a pay-on-demand car membership club based on hourly rental services. The Transit Connect Electric program is a chance for both divisions to explore opportunities for the van's inclusion in the fleet.

Hertz continues to improve the fuel economy of its vehicles through is Global EV eco-mobility program, which is championing an electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle mobility ecosystem that incorporates transportation options that minimize the impact of its operations on the environment and enables the company to continue consistent sound environmental behavior.

The Ford Transit Connect Electric utilizes Azure's proprietary electric powertrain system and Johnson Controls' advanced lithium-ion battery to achieve a range of 50 to 80 miles depending on auxiliary usage and drive cycle and is rechargeable using either a 240-volt or standard 120-volt outlet. Commercial vans generally return to a central location at the end of each driving cycle making for easy overnight recharging. Use of the Transit Connect Electric vehicles will also reduce fuel and maintenance costs, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

About Azure Dynamics

Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD)(OTC: AZDDF) is a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric components and powertrain systems for light and medium commercial vehicles. Azure is strategically targeting the commercial delivery vehicle and shuttle bus markets and is currently working internationally with a variety of partners and customers. The Company is committed to providing customers and partners with innovative, cost-efficient, and environmentally-friendly energy management solutions. For more information please visit www.azuredynamics.com.

About Hertz

The Hertz Corporation, a subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ), is the world's largest airport general use car rental brand, operating from approximately 8,500 locations in 146 countries worldwide. Hertz also operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, through approximately 320 branches in the United States, Canada, France, Spain, China and Italy. For more information please visit www.hertz.com.

Hertz and Marriott Announce EV Car-Sharing Partnership; San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront and Downtown San Francisco First Launch locales

PRESS RELEASE

Hertz (NYSE: HTZ) and Marriott introduce electric-vehicle (EV) car sharing at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront and the first EV car rental program in downtown San Francisco. This new, cutting-edge hotel amenity enables guests and local area residents to drive a wide range of new EV models made available on an hourly or daily basis through Hertz On Demand car sharing. EVs are available at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront 24/7 with Hertz self-service technology enabling guests and area residents the luxury of signing up for Hertz On Demand car sharing on the spot and using an EV immediately. In addition, Hertz is the first car rental company to introduce EVs into its downtown San Francisco fleet which can be rented from Hertz Rent A Car's Mason Street Location.

"Hertz is excited to partner with Marriott to bring EVs to car rental customers in the city of San Francisco," commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO. "Hertz has a 30-year relationship with Marriott and we can be found in more than 100 Marriott hotels nationwide. There is a strong appetite for EVs in San Francisco and residents have proven to be early adopters of this new mobility solution. Introducing EVs into San Francisco ushers in a new, exciting chapter in our relationship as we bring the cars of tomorrow to consumers today."

According to Clif Clark, general manager of the San Francisco Airport Marriott Hotel, "The hotel recently installed two EV charging stations that can fully charge an electric vehicle in three to four hours. Additionally, we are the first Marriott hotel to enter into a car-sharing agreement with Hertz, which enables us to have dedicated electric vehicles available for guests, associates or general public use."

Hertz is the first car-rental company to deploy EVs and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric) in both the U.S. (available to the public in New York, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco) and the U.K. (available in London.) As the world's largest airport general-use car-rental brand, Hertz is introducing multiple groups of consumers -- urban drivers, university students, travelers and corporations -- to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As a result, the company is forming partnerships with automakers, charging-station providers (e.g., GE), municipalities, non-governmental organizations, corporations and other stakeholders like the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront to make EVs easily accessible to consumers.

To reward consumers for embracing the economic savings and positive environmental impact of electric vehicles, the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront will offer free valet parking and a free car charge for an electric vehicle when dining in Flights 101 lounge or Hangar Steak restaurant, or when staying overnight. Additionally, the hotel and Hertz's Mason Street location will have a series of electric vehicles available for hourly rental ranging in price from $6 to $8. Customers will be able to join Hertz On Demand car sharing for free at the hotel and Mason Street location -- or via any Internet browser -- then reserve the dedicated EVs (Nissan Leaf, EV Smart Car, and later Chevy Volt) at their convenience on a first-come, first-served basis.

The San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront is located in Burlingame, Calif., just minutes from the SFO International Airport, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. The waterfront hotel features 685 guestrooms and 24 suites. Guests can enjoy a meal before a long flight at the hotel's Hangar Steak restaurant or sip a cocktail in the Flights 101 Lounge overlooking the water. For additional information, visit www.sanfranciscoairportmarriott.com or call 650-692-9100.

Marriott Hotels & Resorts is Marriott International's signature and most widely distributed brand, with more than 500 hotels and resorts in 54 countries. Marriott continues to inspire performance and a balanced life on the road for discerning and high-achieving business and leisure travelers, offering warm, professional service; sophisticated yet functional guest room design; lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing; restaurants and bars serving international cuisine prepared simply and from the freshest ingredients; meeting and event spaces and services that are gold standard; and expansive, 24-hour fitness facilities. All Marriott hotels participate in the award winning Marriott Rewards frequent travel program that allows members to earn hotel points or airline miles for every dollar spent during each stay. For more information, visit www.MarriottHotels.com. Follow Marriott Hotels & Resorts on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MarriottHotels.

Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for company information. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.

About Hertz

Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand operating from more than 8,500 locations in 146 countries worldwide. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 83 major airports in Europe, operating both corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Company also operates the Advantage car rental brand at 26 airports in the U.S. In addition, Hertz operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, offering a diverse line of rental equipment, including tools and supplies, and new and used equipment for sale from approximately 325 branches in the United States, Canada, China, France, Italy, Spain and Saudi Arabia.

Hertz adds Washington D.C. to plug-in vehicle rental program

Hertz recently announced that its Connect by Hertz plug-in vehicle rental program will soon be offered in Washington, D.C. Hertz will launch the program in the nation's capital by adding the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf to its fleet at Union Station.

Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement that Hertz is, "helping move the 'electrification of transportation' dialog from policy to practice in D.C." The company is doing this by making renting a plug-in simple. For now, though, and due to the limited availability of vehicles, Hertz will restrict access to members only. To become a member, simply sign up at the Connect by Hertz site. Hertz expects to have up to 1,000 plug-in rental vehicles available by the end of 2011. So far, only 20 or so have entered its fleet.



Source: Autoblog Green

Hertz and Renault partner to bring electric vehicles to European rental markets

PRESS RELEASE

Hertz one of first operators to offer Renault Twizy for rental across Europe, in addition to renting ZOE, Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. models

Geneva - March 2, 2011 – The Hertz Corporation (NYSE:HTZ) has signed a Letter of Intent to add Renault's new and innovative range of electric vehicles (EV) to the fleets of Hertz and car sharing club Connect by Hertz across Europe. Hertz will be one of the first rental operators to offer Renault's Twizy for hire, and will also rent the ZOE, Fluence Z.E. and Kangoo Z.E. models.

Signed at the Geneva Motor Show, Hertz's electric vehicle initiative with Renault further demonstrates its commitment to providing customers with zero-emission* mobility solutions. Hertz plans to add 500 units of the Renault range to its fleet over the next two years across Europe. The partnership will form part of the European development of Hertz's Global Electric Vehicle Program, launched in December 2010. The Hertz program is designed to bring a variety of zero emission* electric vehicles to the general public.

Mark Frissora, Chairman and CEO of Hertz Corporation, comments: "Hertz is committed to global implementation of our Electric Vehicle initiative and our planned partnership with Renault will be a vital component of our European roll-out. Renault has developed a full range of electric vehicles demonstrating that design, style and flexibility are compatible with zero-emissions*. We look forward to providing our Hertz customers and Connect by Hertz members with the opportunity to drive these vehicles from the beginning of 2012."

Developed with the customer in mind, the range of Renault EVs caters to a wide range of people, from city dwellers to families.

Fluence Z.E. is a family car, demonstrating that size, comfort and convenience go hand-in-hand with eco-consciousness, while the Kangoo Z.E. is the perfect electric van for fleets and business users.

Twizy is a small, nimble and practical car, ideal for city driving. It combines scooter and motor vehicle technology with a sleek, tandem design. ZOE, a 100% electric car with the roominess of a regular B-segment vehicle is built for busy urban environments but also at ease out on the road.

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, travellers and corporations – to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As part of this strategy, Hertz is forming partnerships with manufacturers, charging station providers, municipalities, NGO's, corporations and other stakeholders.

Uwe Hochgeschurtz, Senior Vice President, Renault Corporate Sales Division, adds: "Electric vehicles are the real long-term solution to today's environmental and noise pollution issues. We have created an exciting range of zero-emission* vehicles to meet the needs of the consumer and the business-traveller. Our partnership with Hertz will allow the public to experience our innovative driving technology first-hand, as well as developing their understanding of the environmental benefits of our Renault ZE Range.

With its partner Nissan, Renault aims to become the leader in zero-emission* mobility, namely the first car manufacturer to sell a complete range of electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles at an affordable price for the greatest number. This year will be a decisive chapter in Renault history with the launch of three electric models, Fluence Z.E., Kangoo Z.E. and Twizy, followed by ZOE in 2012.

During the next several months, Hertz Global EV will leverage the company's rental and car sharing locations as bases for vehicles and charging stations, and tap into its technology – including sophisticated fleet management tools and the consumer-facing NeverLost GPS system – to help form an EV grid.

The electric vehicles from Renault will complement Hertz's existing Green Collection. All the cars in Hertz's Green Collection in Europe can be reserved by make and model, and offer a CO2 output level of less than 140g/km, making them more environmentally friendly than most other cars. The cars in the Collection also achieve 45-65mpg, depending upon vehicle size, so they are more fuel-efficient too. Together, that means customers can enjoy their journey even more, safe in the knowledge that they are saving along the way.

About Renault

The Renault group, with more than 350 industrial and commercial sites in 118 countries, designs, develops, manufactures and sells a broad range of innovative, safe and environmentally respectful vehicles. Renault pursues its strategy of profitable growth under the Renault, Dacia and Renault Samsung Motors brands. The Renault group employs 121 000 people worldwide, reported a net revenue of €38,971 million and has sold more than 2.6 million vehicles in 2010.

For more information about Renault, please see www.renault.com

About Hertz

Hertz is the largest worldwide airport general use car rental brand operating from more than 8,500 locations in 146 countries worldwide. Hertz is the number one airport car rental brand in the U.S. and at 81 major airports in Europe, operating both corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. The Company also operates the Advantage car rental brand at 26 airports in the U.S. and the global car sharing club, Connect by Hertz, in New York City, Berlin, London, Madrid, Melbourne, and Paris. In addition, Hertz operates one of the world's largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation, offering a diverse line of rental equipment, including tools and supplies, and new and used equipment for sale from approximately 325 branches in the United States, Canada, China, France, Spain and Italy.

For more information about Hertz, please see www.hertz.com

Want To Take an Extended Tesla Test Drive? It Will Cost $25

"Our beds are empty two-thirds of the time.
 Our living rooms are empty seven-eighths of the time.
 Our office buildings are empty one-half of the time.
 It’s time we gave this some thought."

—R. Buckminster Fuller

Well, it took awhile, but folks have started seriously entertaining Bucky’s concerns about wasted space. Online services like Air BnB allow people to profit from renting out extra bedrooms, spare couches, and temporarily vacant apartments, for example, while co-working spaces maximize the use of commercial square footage.

Now, the parked car is making itself useful. Just last month, new startup Getaround launched a peer-to-peer marketplace that dramatically reduces the cost of driving by allowing users to rent cars from their iPhone. So while you’re sitting at your desk at work, your car can be liberated from its parking space to earn you money. Or if you're without a car, you can rent one from someone nearby.

"Since the invention of the automobile, we've been conditioned to think that only one person should own and use each car," says Getaround Co-Founder Elliot Kroo. "Getaround is changing that paradigm by enabling people to access a vehicle instead of having to possess one."

Getaround’s latest initiative will no doubt attract legions of early adopters: Members can now try out the Tesla Roadster Sport, which retails for $157,000, for just $25 an hour.

"We are working with Tesla to make their fantastic electric vehicles accessible to more people." says Getaround’s Co-Founder Jessica Scorpio. "Tesla definitely breaks a lot of the misperceptions about EVs and we're excited to be part of that."

Of course the Tesla (which is owned by a private individual, Scorpio explains, "who wants as many people to experience it as possible") isn’t the only car available at Getaround. Other companies are jumping in the EV rental bandwagon like Hertz, which started renting out electric Smart cars in December, and just last week, rented out the first Chevy Volt. And Zipcar has been renting out alternative fuel vehicles for years.

Source: Good Transportation