Recently several rental car companies have introduced electric vehicles (EVs), also known as hybrid cars, into their fleets. Hertz offers the green collection; described as a group of preselected vehicles that are fuel efficient and environmentally friendly. They have approximately 35,000 fuel efficient vehicles with 5,000 of those being hybrid cars. Providing hybrid cars is only part of Hertz's plan to become a more sustainable company. They also provide pay-as-you-go car sharing programs and have outfitted most buildings with more eco-friendly technology. A recent demonstration in New York City, previewed the latest cars Hertz will be purchasing for its fleet. It also plans to establish charging stations in the city for those hybrid cars.
Enterprise is another major rental car company that is committed to reducing carbon emissions through it's "Keys to Green" campaign. They have recently established deals with Nissan and Coda Automotive to provide around 600 hybrid cars to it's fleet. These new hybrid rental cars will be available in early 2011 to major cities around the country. Enterprise has also committed to reduce its energy consumption and costs by twenty percent over the next five years. Like Hertz, this company is taking steps in the right direction to become more sustainable.
Hertz and Enterprise are just two of several rental car companies that have made promises to expand into the hybrid car market. I agree that this is one great way to start changing the minds of Americans everywhere. Most people are unable to commit to purchasing a hybrid car for themselves. But now they can get the experience for only a fraction of the cost. Slowly the average citizen will start to realize just how far technology has come. Although, I applaud these companies for their green efforts, not all are so enthusiastic. Many critics believe these companies should have invested in the technology long ago. However, they do bring up the point that only a small fraction of those car fleets are hybrids. Enterprise has over a million cars in its fleet currently but only several hundred will be electric vehicles. I firmly believe that Enterprise and Hertz have made the right decision by investing in new technology. Once people see how successful these programs are more companies will do the same.
-Mark McKenzie
In today's advertising industry it is tough to distinguish which companies are simply 'green-washing' to attract more clients, and which companies are doing it because they have realized it can save them money. I believe that both of these companies are doing it because they have realized it can save them money. Like it or not, electric cars will be here to stay, and eventually these rental fleets will be a majority of EVs. Enterprise and Hertz are smart to jump on the bus first, because this is where the future is. This is a very interesting topic though, as ranges will be limited by battery size and charge times, somewhat putting a limit on how long you can use these cars. That is something to keep an eye on in the future.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point about "green washing". I neglected to point out that being green is a good business practice. These companies have a goal of making money and these campaigns definitely help their public image. However, I do not think that the motivations necessarily matter. Hybrid or electric cars can drastically reduce the amount of fossil fuels we use. Companies like Enterprise of Hertz are helping to educate the public and bring awareness to this issue.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are strong economic incentives that come from "green washing", but I don't see it as a bad thing to have these economic motives. Even if these companies are only going about these green initiatives in attempt to drawn consumers and display an image, the fact that they are using environmentally friendly cars can't go unnoticed. Too often people are quick to criticize others for displaying a "fake" image in attempt reach economic or social goals. But in the end these cars are helping the environment regardless.
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