Ditching the land yachts and driving green

Rental car companies are increasingly adding fuel efficient vehicles to their fleet and they are having a hard time keeping them in stock as drivers are eager to take them on road trips.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the owner of National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car, recently announced that it would be adding more hybrid cars to its fleet, including the Toyota Prius.

According to company spokesperson, Laura Bryant, the Prius has become one of the most popular rental cars. “They’re almost always rented,” she said.

Enterprise recently opened a green branch in Atlanta as an experiment in more environmentally friendly car hire practice. The branch has a concentrated selection of fuel-efficient vehicles including several hybrid models.

“Instead of having one or two per location, we grouped them at a branch where people know they will be available,” Bryant said.

She added that it was possible the concept would spread to other locations, mentioning Phoenix as a possibility.

Enterprise is concentrating on flex-fuel vehicles in the American Midwest, where ethanol is more readily available.

“Demand is changing, and we’re adapting to it,” Bryant said.

Hertz is adapting to the change of fuel prices by helping customers offset petrol prices with a free tank of gas with every rental.

Other companies, like Enterprise and Avis, are bringing prices down, offering weekend discounts of up to 50 per cent, to encourage travellers to keep renting despite high gas costs.

Bryant expects travellers need little incentive with airline tickets rising. “For some people and businesses it makes more sense to rent a car instead of flying,” Bryant said.

www.enterprise.com