KPLU Local News
(2010-08-25)
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(KPLU) -
The next time you rent a car, you might be able to get one without gas. Seattle is among several cities where Enterprise Rent-a-Car will start introducing electric vehicles next year.
Enterprise is getting 500 all-electric Nissan LEAF sedans, which it will start renting to consumers in 8 cities this January. Lee Broughton, the company's director of corporate sustainability, says Seattle is an ideal test market. He says customers here like trying out alternative vehicles. The company has seen that with demand for the cars on offer at its special 'hybrid' locations.
"Where we've concentrated things like the hybrid vehicles and some of our more fuel-efficient vehicles, the demand is really good in Seattle," Broughton says. "So we feel that that will be the same with this too."
Enterprise will start building charging stations for electric cars at many of its rental locations in November. At about that time, the city will start building its own network of charging stations. About a thousand of them are being funded by a federal grant and will be located in public places such as malls. The cars will have a range of about 100 miles per charge. Enterprise thinks that will work well for many Seattle customers - who rent when they need a temporary replacement vehicle for their daily commute.
For More Information:
Enterprise Rent-A-Car to Begin Offering Electric Vehicles in U.S.
Seattle Electric Vehicle Association WebSite
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