Electric vehicles will only be a sales success and become mainstream if they are offered through easy-to-use rental schemes, according to Michel Taride, president of Hertz International.
Speaking at an EV conference, Taride said that three things are needed for EVs to succeed in the UK: longer range, Government stimulus, and easy access to the cars and a charging network.
“We think EVs are a reality in London and would like to see that repeated across the UK. Hertz launched EVs in the UK a year ago and we were the first rental firm with them,” said Taride.
“Easy rental will help break down the barriers to electric cars. In particular, EVs fit well with car clubs, which is why we run them through Hertz On Demand.”
As part of Hertz’s EV push, it has partnered with TfL’s Source London charging network.
The partnership means Hertz On Demand customers can access the Source London network for free and in return Hertz will promote the Source London scheme at its London EV rental sites. Hertz has also added a Vauxhall Ampera to its London On Demand fleet.
Also speaking at the conference, Fraser McDonald, TfL project manager for EVs, said that he found the information on EVs confusing and contradictory. He also added: “Roads account for a fifth of CO2 emissions in London. Creating a single pan-London charging scheme was essential and growing this network will help the uptake of EVs. There were 150 charging points a year ago. We’re now at 600 and the target is 1300 by 2013.”
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