Funding Supports Expansion to Seven Budget Rent a Car Locations in California

Los Angeles, CA, April 1, 1999 - EV Rental Cars, a company specializing in the consumer rental of environmental vehicles (EVs), announced it received a grant award worth $400,000 cash and in-kind donations from The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) and the California Air Resources Board (ARB). EV Rental Cars will use the grant to expand its rental operations to an additional seven Budget Rent a Car locations throughout California this year.

The grant is leveraged by nearly $1 million from the AQMD and ARB project partners, which include the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, City of Burbank, City of Anaheim, Edison EV and others. Each partner has committed its expertise and funding to expand EV Rental Carís unprecedented demonstration program. The cities of Anaheim and Burbank also plan to acquire additional vehicles to make available to local residents through the EV program in their cities.

EV Rental Cars, through an exclusive partnership with Budget, launched its flagship EV rental operation last December at Budgetís Los Angeles International Airport location. The company plans to open its new operations at Budget locations in Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Burbank, Orange County, Ontario and Sacramento throughout 1999.

EV Rental Carís program offers environmental vehicles to travelers and local residents who are environmentally conscious or want to "try before they buy." According to Jeff Pink, founder and president of EV Rental Cars, "Our primary goal is to broaden the access to the latest hi-tech, clean fuel vehicles to more consumers at a lower cost."

"I really enjoyed my EV rental experience in LA, and Iím glad to know that Iíll be able to rent an EV at other Budget locations within California in the near future," commented customer Andrew Mandolene of San Francisco, California. "EVs are just a thrill to drive, and it feels great to be doing my part to help the environment."

To date, EV Rental Cars has generated more than 300 EV rentals for a combined total of over 30,000 clean fuel miles. Those rentals translate into savings of approximately 400 pounds of toxic air pollution. These results caught the attention of the AQMD and ARB.

"This program will put electric vehicles into the hands of thousands of motorists, giving them an opportunity to see for themselves how well they perform," said Barry Wallerstein, executive officer, South Coast Air Quality Management District. "Zero- emission vehicles such as these are essential to cleaning up Southern Californiaís smog."

"Support from Budget and our public partners is breathing new life into the EV industry. As our California expansion proves successful, we hope more communities will want our EV rental program in their local markets, to offer cleaner vehicle technology and a reduction in air pollution," added Pink.

Budget Rent a Car Corporation, the worldís third largest car and truck rental system, and EV Rental Cars have partnered to offer EV rentals to consumers. This new alliance to support cleaner living is aided by major automobile manufacturers and their electric products, ranging from sporty two-seaters with top acceleration to full four-seat large cabin hatchbacks. EV Rental Cars lease the EVs and rent them to the public through Budget, using Budgetís locations, operations, marketing support and lot space.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Budget Group, Inc. (NYSE: BD), Budget Rent a Car operates under the same name worldwide, with more than 3,200 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. Budgetís WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than 30% specialty vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles, convertibles and luxury cars to minivans, pickups and electric vehicles. In Europe, Budget was the first major car rental company to rent LPG (liquid petroleum gas) vehicles throughout the United Kingdom, and since 1996 has been offering electric cars in Paris and Lyons, and methane-powered cars in Sweden.