Hertz Will Rent Nissan Leaf in the US and Europe

As all eyes now anxiously turn towards Nissan and the anticipated release onto the market of the first mass produced electric vehicle, car rental company Hertz is hard at work setting up a special branch for its business, dedicated to the rental of the Leaf in the US and Europe. A partnership with Nissan has been signed towards that goal.

“The partnership with Nissan seals Hertz’s commitment to green-car rentals and firmly demonstrates our mission to advancing zero-emission mobility on a global scale,” Hertz CEO Mark Frissora said when announcing the partnership.

“Our partnership with Hertz is an important step towards our goal of promoting widespread acceptance of electric vehicles. Together with our Alliance partner Renault we aim to be the leader in zero-emission vehicles which we believe are one of the best solutions for sustaining the growing need for transport across the globe.”

The Leaf will enter sale in 2012. Until then, Nissan will continue to pursue the same Zero Emissions program which brought them partnerships with 40 governments, cities and other organizations in Japan, the US and Europe, to ease leaf's arrival onto the world.

Last week, Nissan also released details on how one can become the owner of an electric Leaf. Those interested must at first register, then reserve and finally order the leaf, while deliveries are expected to begin, in some regions, as soon as late 2010.