SAN DIEGO (May 1, 2000) Ð Budget EV Rental Cars, a joint effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent a Car, introduced San DiegoÕs first-ever natural gas and hybrid-electric vehicle fleet at San DiegoÕs Budget Rent a Car. Budget EV Rental Cars is the only U.S. rental agency to rent exclusively environmental vehicles.
Budget EV Rental Cars will offer renters the Honda Insight, the first hybrid-electric vehicle 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. The outlet will also offer the Honda Civic GX, a compressed natural gas vehicle, known as "the cleanest on Earth." The Honda Civic GX can travel nearly 200 miles before refueling, and its tank can be filled for roughly half the price of traditional gas.
The event was highlighted by San Diego Congressman Brian Bilbray, who helped kick off the festivities by driving the first environmental rental vehicle. Other key supporters attended including Steve Bimson, chairman of the San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition; Michelle Mueller, marketing director of San Diego Gas & Electric, a Sempra gas company, and Mitch Pratt, marketing manager of the Southern California Gas Company.
"San Diego is a major tourist destination with many conventions and business activities putting additional vehicles on the road. Most of the cityÕs air pollution comes from vehicle emissions," said Congressman Brian Bilbray. "We are proud to support a program that is an excellent example of a responsible entrepreneurial business which helps generate jobs while also reducing air pollution and improving the quality of life in the San Diego region."
Budget EV Rental Cars also announced a special promotion in conjunction with the National Clean Cities Conference on May 7-10. During the conference, the first 50 renters of the Honda Civic GX will receive a $10 per day rate, with unlimited mileage and free fuel.
Budget EV Rental Cars will initially maintain a fleet of 15 vehicles and will expand it to 25 vehicles. The outlet will offer a special introductory rate of $44 for the Honda Civic GX and $79 for the Honda Insight. At the time of rental, Budget EV Rental CarsÕ specialists offer customers a five-minute vehicle orientation as well as review travel plans with them. There are 15 natural gas refueling stations throughout greater San Diego, many located at traditional gas stations.
The launch of Budget EV Rental Cars in San Diego represents a continuing effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent a Car to improve air quality in California. The program is also supported by American Honda, San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego Air Pollution Control District, Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition of America, the San Diego Regional Clean Fuels Coalition and the San Diego Regional Energy Office.
"By providing low-cost extended test drives in the most technologically-advanced clean fuel vehicles, Budget EV Rental Cars proves to each individual that these cars are practical for everyday use. This makes the technology commercially viable while directly reducing emissions," said EV Rental Cars Founder Jeff Pink. "With a fleet of 25 vehicles, we can reduce more than 3,000 pounds of emissions each year."
Since 1998, EV Rental Cars has directly prevented more than three tons of air pollution in California. Based at the Los Angeles International Airport, the company maintains a fleet of nearly 100 vehicles at five locations and has rented to more than 3,000 travelers. The program is set to expand nationwide to Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Texas and Washington DC by the end of 2000.
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EV Rental Cars has been committed to providing commuters with an alternative rental car choice and addressing air quality issues. For more information on EV Rental Cars, call 877-387-3682; write to 9775 Airport Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045; or visit the Web site at www.EVrental.com.
Budget Rent a Car Corporation, the worldÕs third largest car and truck rental system, and EV Rental Cars have joined together to offer EV rentals to consumers. This new effort to support cleaner living is aided by major automobile manufacturers and their EV products. EV Rental Cars leases the EVs and rents them to the public through Budget, using BudgetÕs 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 3,000 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% specialty vehicles, ranging from sport 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 1996 has been offering electric cars in Paris and Lyons, and methane-powered cars in Sweden.
