Car-rental leader Hertz is working to make electric vehicles (EVs) available for anyone by adding them to its rental fleet and expanding EV charging structures, going city by city starting in Denver.
Key Details
- Hertz is adding 5,200 EVs to its Denver rental fleet, which currently has around 8,100 vehicles.
- The company will also build multiple EV charging stations across Denver and add some at the Denver International Airport with its partner BP Pulse.
- By adding EVs to its fleet and building a changing network, Hertz hopes to allow more people to access an EV to boost purchases and limit emissions.
Why it’s news
The popularity of electric vehicles has taken off in the last few years, but the high price tag is stopping many Americans from switching to battery-powered cars.
The average price of an electric vehicle in the U.S. for August 2022 was $66,000, while the average American says they are not willing to pay over $50,000 for a new car.
To allow more Americans to access EVs and test the vehicles before deciding to go all in on the purchase, rental car company Hertz is adding EVs to its rental lineup starting in Denver, Colorado.
The company is adding 5,200 EVs to its Denver rental fleet, which currently has around 8,100 gas-powered vehicles, and expanding the EV charging network to ensure the city has enough chargers for the battery-powered cars.
Not only will the cars be available for rent, but the vehicles will be able to be accessed by Uber drivers allowing even more exposure for the cars.
According to Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr, Hertz will work with Denver and future cities to put EV chargers in places where it is needed the most.
“Our goal is to reduce Denver’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, and expanding the use and availability of electric vehicles will play a major role in helping us achieve that goal,” says Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “This partnership with Hertz will provide invaluable data about where we need charging infrastructure the most, as well as provide new opportunities with this new technology to create good-paying jobs for our current and future workforce.”
