Partnership Helps to Further the "EVolution" of Alternative-Fuel Vehicles

(Los Angeles) - Today EV Rental Cars, a company that specializes in the rental of environmental vehicles, announced the launch of the first compressed natural gas vehicle (NGV) rental fleet in Los Angeles through its partnership with Budget Rent a Car Corporation. This represents the next step in the ongoing evolution toward alternative-fuel vehicle use since the company began offering the first electric vehicles rentals in the U.S. in December.

The effort is a partnership between EV Rental Cars, Budget Rent a Car, Southern California Gas, Pickens Fuel Corp. and American Honda Motor Co. Inc. Based at Budget Rent a Car's Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) location, the partnership will initially offer a fleet of five Honda Civic GX sedans, with at least 15 additional NGV rentals available for rent at other Budget locations throughout the state by the end of the year.

NGVs are considered highly cost-effective, since compressed natural gas currently costs about 40 to 50 percent less than gasoline, and as a domestic resource has proven to be less vulnerable than gasoline to market fluctuation or world crises. Natural gas is also considered the cleanest burning alternative fuel currently available. The Honda Civic GX, a dedicated natural gas vehicle, has the lowest emissions of any internal combustion engine vehicle ever tested by the government. "Although this technology has been available for 40 years, it has been underutilized," said David Rodgers, director of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Utilization and the company's first NGV renter. "I hope the service being launched here today will lead to increased awareness among consumers about the cost effectiveness, high performance levels and environmental benefits of NGVs, and ultimately lead to more widespread use of these vehicles.

There are currently 125 NGV fueling stations throughout Southern California and 230 throughout the state. NGV renters will receive fueling cards from Pickens and SoCal Gas. As a major entry point for travelers from around the world, one of Budget's largest markets and a city faced with great air quality challenges, Los Angeles is a natural choice for the roll-out of this fleet, which targets Budget's government renters, one-day renters, leisure travelers, families, environmentally-conscious travelers and consumers looking to "try before they buy." With this partnership, Budget and EV Rental Cars hope to continue what they consider the evolution toward widespread use of environmental vehicles in the United States.

"Los Angeles has made great strides toward improving its air quality," said L.A. City Councilwoman Ruth Galanter, whose district includes Budget's LAX facility. "I commend EV Rental Cars and Budget for making this new environmental service available to consumers, and I hope that visitors to the city and residents alike will consider the rental of NGVs and other alternative-fuel vehicles as one more way that they can help the environment.

Although rentals of NGVs and other environmental vehicles is relatively new in the U.S., Europeans have been renting such cars for several years. 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 Lyon and methane-powered cars in Sweden.

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, including more than 100 locations throughout California. Budget's WorldClass Fleet is comprised of more than 30% specialty vehicles, ranging from sport utility vehicles, convertibles and luxury cars to minivans, pickups and environmental vehicles.