With gas prices likely heading north of $4/gallon in some areas of the U.S. this summer, Enterprise Rent-a-Car is looking to provide some relief for their customers. The biggest rental agency in the U.S. has opened four new outlets in the Atlanta area that will be specializing in greener vehicles, primarily hybrids. Enterprise expects over sixty percent of rentals from the four green outlets to be hybrids or other fuel efficient models. The company has now accumulated over 4,000 hybrids in its rental fleet although that's just a tiny fraction of its 1.1 million vehicle fleet. Enterprise and other rental agencies are charging premiums of $5-15 a day for hybrids over conventional models. Hertz and Avis Budget Group have also added 3,500 and 2,500 hybrids to their fleets as demand for more efficient rental cars has expanded. So far the hybrid rentals have largely been confined to larger markets such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and Atlanta. Travelers aren't the only ones renting hybrids. Drivers with an interest in potentially buying a hybrid that want a longer test drive are also opting for the gas electric models as a way of evaluating whether they are appropriate for them.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

Plymouth Rock Studios, a film and television Production Campus being developed in Plymouth, Massachusetts, has decided to go green with the rental cars that will undoubtedly be required by the actors, studio execs and visitors. In order to make this happen, they have teamed up with Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which has already seen some coverage here at AutoblogGreen. Enterprise will be providing the an all-hybrid fleet of rental cars to Plymouth Rock Studios, making them "an official Green Alliance Partner" with the studio ... for whatever that's worth. Hyperbole aside, offering a hybrid-only fleet is a step in the right direction and we hope that other studios can find a way to follow the example set here. Details after the break.

Car sharing companies like ZipCar may soon be getting some new competition from traditional car rental companies. Enterprise Rent-a-Car will be publicly launching a car sharing service next week in St. Louis. The WeCar service actually started in a private phase last month on the Washington University campus. The WeCar program will require a $35 annual membership and rental fees will run $10/hour and $30 for overnight drives. Gas, insurance and up to 200 miles per day are included in the rental fee. Unlike ZipCar, Enterprise is focusing more on business customers for their service although anyone is welcome to sign up. Enterprise already has a deal with Google to provide service at their headquarters campus.

[Source: Wall Street Journal]