Vehicle rental firm Hertz has launched the Green Collection, making it the first car hire operator to offer a specific range of vehicles which are more environmentally friendly.
The range, which will be available across Europe, will include the Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI, Renault Megane D 5CV, Ford Focus 1.6 TDCI and Skoda Octavia TD, in all around 6,800 small and mid-size, and full size automatic and manual vehicles. Initially launched across the UK, Belgium, Italy and The Netherlands the range will also be made available in France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland before the end of 2006.
Both carbon emission and MPG levels were studied in order to determine what vehicles would meet the criteria. Hertz said customers will be reassured that vehicles in the Green Collection have a weighted CO2 output of less than 140 g/km.
All vehicles within the range achieve between 41.5 and 65.7 miles per gallon. The criteria already meets the 2008 voluntary target of the maximum average 140 g/km CO2 output set by the EU for the European Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Bill Jones, vice president, marketing and sales, said: ”As manufacturers strive to develop cars with lower emissions levels, Hertz is committed to purchasing more vehicles of this calibre, giving customers the opportunity to book exactly what they want”.
Hertz has also confirmed that it will soon be adding hybrid dual fuel cars to its European fleet.