Hertz, the car rental giant, is making a investment in electric vehicles (EVs) in North America, with the launch of its Hertz Electrifies initiative in Denver. The public-private partnership between Hertz, the city of Denver, and Mayor Michael Hancock aims to expand the availability of EVs, charging infrastructure, and EV education and training opportunities in the Denver community.
Denver is the first city to benefit from Hertz Electrifies, which will bring up to 5,200 rental EVs to the area. The vehicles, which will include models from Tesla, Polestar, and GM, will be available for leisure and business travelers, as well as rideshare drivers. To support the initiative, Hertz is partnering with bp and its global high-speed electric charging network, bp pulse, to install publicly accessible charging infrastructure across all neighborhoods of Denver.
See also: Hertz Electrifies: Public-Private Partnership to Bring Electric Cars and Data-Based Infrastructure
Hertz is also donating an electric vehicle and providing EV educational and training materials to Montbello Career and Technical High School to enable the school to incorporate EV technology into its auto servicing curriculum. Hertz is also making summer jobs available to young people in Denver, including through the Denver Youth Employment Program.
According to Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr, the company is committed to helping communities tap into the economic and environmental benefits of electrification, and Hertz Electrifies is a key part of this effort. Scherr added that the initiative is proud to partner with the city of Denver and Mayor Hancock, and to support Montbello Career and Technical High School in creating EV educational and training opportunities for the workforce of the future.
For its part, Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock said that the partnership with Hertz is a groundbreaking new endeavor to teach young people new skills and prepare them for the next wave of technological advances. Hancock noted that the alliances will further educate Denver’s youth and put them on a path to success in the economy of tomorrow.
See also: Hertz adds 65,000 Polestar car to its electric vehicle fleet
Dave Lawler, Chairman and President of bp America, also praised the public-private partnerships and emphasized the importance of engaging students early and often to ensure they have the right skills for the future. Lawler commended Mayor Hancock and Hertz as they continue to make steady progress in Denver.
As Hertz Electrifies expands to other cities across the country, it is clear that the initiative will have far-reaching impacts. With its commitment to electrification, Hertz is not only creating new economic opportunities for communities, but is also contributing to a more sustainable future.
