
Avis features cars that are SmartWay Certified by the EPA.
By Mark Chesnut
As hybrid vehicles find their way into more and more driveways, car rental companies are gradually adding eco-friendly options to their fleets as well.
Hertz offers the Green Collection, which includes Toyota Prius and Camry hybrids. National has a “standard hybrid” and an “SUV hybrid” car category. Enterprise has hybrid vehicles but, according to rental terms, cannot guarantee the model until you arrive at the counter.
Indeed, most rental car companies only have hybrids in limited locations — if at all. “We have very little demand either from consumers or companies for hybrids or electric cars at this time,” said John R. Barrows, vice president of communications at Avis Budget Group, “and so as a result we have virtually no electric vehicles and only a very small quantity of gas/electric hybrids available for rent.” (more…)