Stamford, CT - Just in time for the busy holiday travel season, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is designating its E. Main Street rental location in Stamford as a “hybrid branch,” as part of a broader move that adds nearly 5,000 additional gas/electric hybrids to its nationwide fleet. The designated “hybrid branch” has a high concentration of the new hybrids available and, for the first time, customers will be able to reserve these hybrids online or by phone.
Enterprise already was home to the world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. The addition of nearly 5,000 hybrid vehicles more than doubles the amount of hybrids the company owns. Hybrids can achieve greater fuel economy, use less gasoline and have fewer emissions than traditional vehicles.
In addition to those in Stamford, the new hybrids will be available in nearly 80 neighborhood and airport “hybrid branch” locations across the United States. Locally, the “hybrid branch” is located at 745 E. Main St.
Customers will be able to choose from hybrid vehicles such as the Toyota Prius, Nissan Altima and Ford Escape. Local rental rates start at $49.99 per day but will vary according to market conditions; rates also will vary at locations throughout the country. Additional “hybrid branch” locations across the country will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Our customers in Stamford want fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicle choices,” said Andy Church, vice president and general manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car in New York. “Adding 5,000 new hybrids to our nationwide fleet gives them more options than ever, and is in keeping with our promise to promote new engine technologies.”
Customers can reserve a hybrid at the E. Main Street rental location online at www.enterprise.com or by calling 1-800-RENT-A-CAR.
The designation of “hybrid branches” nationwide continues Enterprise’s environmental commitment to growing the market for alternative fuels and technologies. The Enterprise family of companies, which is owned by the Taylor Family and includes the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands, has the industry’s most comprehensive environmental sustainability platform that includes:
Embracing new, clean technologies – In addition to the focus on hybrids, Enterprise has designated eight “E85/FlexFuel” branches where as much as 30 percent of the local fleets are FlexFuel vehicles capable of using E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline). In addition, Enterprise fuels those vehicles from a nearby E85 fueling station.
The world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles – Nearly 450,000 cars in the combined Enterprise, National and Alamo fleet average a highway fuel efficiency rating of at least 28 mpg or better; nearly 230,000 average 32 mpg or better; and nearly 425,000 have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay certification mark – a distinction the EPA grants to vehicles that emit relatively low levels of both regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases such as CO2.
Customer Carbon Offsets – Enterprise, National and Alamo customers can offset the CO2 emissions of their rental cars by opting to pay $1.25 per rental to fund certified offset projects through TerraPass. The company’s charitable foundation will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million.
Research – In 2007, the Taylor family donated $25 million to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, where top scientists are working on alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.
Conservation – The company’s charitable foundation has pledged $50 million to plant 50 million trees over 50 years through the 50 Million Tree Pledge, a public/private/non-profit partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. Trees are being planted on public lands in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
All told, over the past several years the Taylor family and their companies have contributed or pledged more than $120 million to environmental initiatives. For more information about the full environmental platform, visit www.keystogreen.com.
About Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Founded in 1957 and headquartered in St. Louis, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is an internationally recognized brand with the largest fleet of passenger vehicles in the world today, more than 700,000 cars and trucks. Enterprise also operates a network of 7,000 neighborhood and airport rental locations in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Ireland, and Germany. Enterprise of North America is part of a global strategic alliance with Europcar, creating the world’s largest car rental network.
As North America’s largest car rental company, Enterprise is known for its exceptionally low rates, neighborhood convenience and its outstanding service, including picking up local customers at no extra cost. Ranked No. 18 on the Forbes Top 500 Private Companies in America, Enterprise has branch offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population. In addition, Enterprise has ranked highest in customer satisfaction among airport rentals in nine out of the past 10 years, according to J.D. Power and Associates Rental Car Satisfaction Study. For more information about Enterprise, visit www.enterprise.com.
