Do EVs have a future as part of the nation’s rental car fleet? That remains to be seen, but Hertz (NYSE: HTZ), the world’s largest airport car rental brand, is talking about it, and that’s a start. The company has announced that it will add the Tesla Model S to its Dream Cars lineup of high-end performance vehicles.
According to the company, “consumers in select markets are now able to rent both the Tesla Model S and Tesla Roadster.” Hertz says that the 85 kWh Model S, which has a range of 265 miles, will be available at the San Francisco and Los Angeles airports.
“Customer and industry support for Hertz’s Dream Cars has been overwhelming, so adding the Tesla Model S to the already outstanding fleet was an easy choice,” said Hertz CEO Mark P. Frissora.
Ready to reserve a Model S for your next business trip to LA? Not so fast. You’ll find no mention of Tesla on the www.hertz.com web site – you’ll need to go to www.hertzdreamcars.com and arrange to make your booking over the phone. And there’s a reason Hertz describes this as a “once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experience.” Prices start around $500 a day, a Hertz spokeswoman told Bloomberg. She said the company has a total of five Model S in its fleet.
Hertz also claims to have LEAFs and Volts in its fleet, but there don’t seem to be any available to rent, at least not on the public web site.
Image: Jurvetson (flickr)
Source: Hertz, Bloomberg