Electric vehicle usage has increased considerably in recent years across the U.S. One of the main factors driving the surge has been the number of public incentives offered to cities and EV owners. Now, Denver residents and EV owners will see more incentives as a new partnership with rental company Hertz rolls out.
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock recently announced that the city launched a partnership with Hertz called Hertz Electrifies to bring up to 5,200 EVs for local Hertz customers and rideshare drivers to rent. New charging stations will also be installed throughout the city and employment and training programs will be created through the partnership.
“This partnership with Hertz will provide invaluable data about where we need charging infrastructure the most, as well as provide new opportunities with this new technology to create good-paying jobs for our current and future workforce,” Hancock said in a statement.
The city of Denver also aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 and hopes that the influx of EVs will accelerate its efforts to reach the lofty goal.
The Hertz Electrifies program is another example of Colorado’s continued investment in electric vehicles. Over the past few years, the Centennial State has built new infrastructure to support EVs and created a road map to increase the number of EVs in the state to 940,000 by 2030. Colorado’s most extensive project to date has been the installation of electric vehicle chargers along six major highways in the state. That project will receive $57 million in funding over the next several years.
“Hertz is investing in the largest electric vehicle rental fleet in North America and bringing a new driving experience to leisure and business customers as well as rideshare drivers. I can think of no better partner in Hertz’s shift towards electrification than America’s cities, where innovation is happening,” Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr said in a statement.
Hertz Electrifies is expected to roll out in several cities across the U.S. with the first program taking place in Denver.
