Hertz announced Thursday a public-private partnership with mayors across the country to expand its fleet of electric rental vehicles and add public charging infrastructure through its partnership with BP Pulse.
The company is launching the initiative in Denver with Mayor Michael Hancock under the brand Hertz Electrifies, according to a press release. Hertz will bring up to 5,200 rental EVs to the mile-high city for use by Hertz customers and rideshare drivers. It will also increase charging capacity at Denver International Airport and other Hertz locations in the area. Along with BP Pulse, the companies will add public charging stations in other areas of the city.
"Our goal is to reduce Denver's carbon emissions 80% by 2050, and expanding the use and availability of electric vehicles will play a major role in helping us achieve that goal,” Hancock said in the press release.
Hertz also said it will provide EVs, tools and training to students enrolled in the auto certificate program at Montbello Career and Technical High School and offer summer job opportunities through the Denver Youth Employment Program.
The company added that it will work to put EVs and other vehicles into service in underserved communities in collaboration with cities and nonprofit organizations.
Other recent EV charging developments included charging network operator Volta announcing it will be acquired by Shell USA, a subsidiary of Shell Plc, at a value of $169 million. In a press release issued Wednesday, Volta said the deal “builds on the momentum in electric mobility by combining one of the leading EV charging and media companies in the U.S. with one of the world's largest energy suppliers.”
Also, Australia-based Tritium, a global charging equipment supplier, announced Tuesday its largest-ever order for EV fast chargers from BP, which will install the chargers for fleets and public use in the U.S. and other countries under the BP Pulse business unit.
