Budget EV Rental Cars launches San Francisco Bay area's first natural Gas and hybrid-electric vehicle rental outlet

Technology and Environment Unite to Offer Cost-Effective Alternative to Renting Conventional Gasoline-Powered Vehicles

San Francisco (August 8, 2000)- Budget EV Rental Cars, a joint effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent a Car Corporation, introduced the San Francisco Bay AreaÕs first-ever natural gas and hybrid-electric vehicle fleet today at the San Francisco International Airport. Budget EV Rental Cars is the only U.S. company to exclusively rent environmental vehicles.

For the first time ever, consumers can rent the new Nissan Sentra CA, known as the cleanest gasoline-powered car in the world. A Sentra CA driven 20 miles gives off fewer harmful emissions than a conventional car in the driveway with its engine off.

The majority of the fleet is powered by natural gas, which can save renters time and money and prevents air pollution. The Honda Civic GX and Ford Crown Victoria are based on popular conventional models and can travel 200 miles before refueling. Renters can save time because the cars are eligible to drive in the HOV (carpool) lane with only one occupant and the renters can return the car empty without incurring additional charges. Budget EV Rental Cars also saves its customers money normally spent of fuel because natural gas is roughly half the price of gasoline. Twenty-five Honda Civic GXÕs produce fewer emissions than just one conventional low-emission vehicle, such as the gasoline-powered Honda Civic.

In addition, Budget EV Rental Cars will offer the Honda Insight, the first hybrid-electric vehicles available in the U.S., which can travel 600-700 miles on a single tank of gas and never requires recharging from an outside source.

ÒI would like to commend Budget EV Rental Cars and the San Francisco International Airport for their efforts to increase the use of clean burning fuels in the Bay Area.Ó Said Mayor Willie Brown. ÒThese natural gas and hybrid-electric cars are good for the environment, reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum, and they now have access to HOV lanes. If you need to rent a car, this is clearly the way to go.Ó

ÒThis is a great alternative to renting gasoline-powered vehicles since gas rates in San Francisco are 14 cents higher than the national average,Ó said Jeff Pink, president and founder of EV Rental Cars. ÒIt is also an excellent opportunity for high-tech corporations in the Bay Area to demonstrate their commitment to the environment by having employees rent clean vehicles while they are in town.Ó

The City and County of San Francisco partnered with EV Rental Cars and was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy Clean Cities program, enabling the rental outlet to open in the Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area is a priority for the U.S. Department of Energy, as it is one of six metro areas nationwide that is targeted for the departmentÕs effort to expand the number of alternative fuel vehicles in the federal fleet.

Budget EV Rental Cars will maintain a fleet of 35 vehicles and expects to increase the fleet size based on market response. Rates are comparable to conventional vehicles but fuel is less expensive. At the time of rental, Budget EV Rental CarsÕ specialists offer customers a five-minute vehicle orientation and review travel plans with them. There are roughly 30 natural gas refueling stations in Northern California, and more than 300 throughout the state.

The launch of Budget EV Rental Cars in San Francisco represents a continuing effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent a Car to improve air quality in California. EV Rental Cars leases the EVs and rents them to the public through Budget, the worldÕs third largest car and truck rental system, using BudgetÕs locations, operations, marketing support and lot space. Based at the Los Angeles International Airport, the company maintains a fleet of more than 125 vehicles at six locations including Los Angeles, Sacramento, Beverly Hills, Ontario and San Diego and has rented to more than 5,000 travelers. The program is set to expand nationwide to Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Texas and Washington DC by the end of 2001.

Since 1998, EV Rental Cars has directly prevented more than five tons of air pollution in California and has been committed to providing commuters with an alternative rental car choice and addressing air quality issues. For reservations call 877-387-3682 or visit the web site at www.evrental.com.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: BD), Budget Rent a Car Corporation operates under the same name worldwide, with more than 3,000 airport and local market locations in over 120 countries and territories. Budget has nearly 1,000 corporate-owned and franchised locations in the United States. BudgetÕs WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than 30 percent specialty vehicles, ranging from support utility vehicles, convertibles and luxury cars to minivans, pickups and environmental vehicles. In Europe, Budget was the first major car rental company to rent LPG (liquid petroleum gas) vehicles throughout the United Kingdom, and since 1196 has been offering electric cars in Paris and Lyons, and methane-powered cars in Sweden.