ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwired - Apr 11, 2013) - Earth Day New York sponsor Enterprise CarShare will hit the runway and display one of its hybrid vehicles as well as car-sharing technology during the Green Vehicle Fashion Show at Manhattan's Union Square Park April 21.
The annual Earth Day celebration is a free event designed to highlight various ways New Yorkers can live and work more sustainably, including such transportation options as Enterprise CarShare and electric, low-emission and alternative-fuel vehicles.
"We believe in comprehensive, long-term local transportation planning," said Anwar Ismael, regional vice president of Enterprise in New York, "and in supporting local citizens, business and government leaders as they advocate for a more sustainable future for their communities."
As a result, Enterprise frequently reaches out to organizations like the Electrification Coalition, the Corporate Eco Forum, the Transportation Sustainability Research Center, the Department of Energy's Clean Cities initiative, and the National League of Cities' Sustainable Cities Institute -- all of whom help broaden discussions about local mobility and the transportation value chain. Enterprise also is partnering with the Wharton Initiative for Environmental Global Leadership (IGEL), which recently published a special report titled, "Next Stop, Innovation: What's Ahead for Urban Mobility?"
Urban Mobility
Enterprise CarShare is a natural extension of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car local car-rental network, which has been delivering transportation alternatives right where people live and work since 1957. With more than 5,500 offices located within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, Enterprise currently operates almost twice as many locations as its nearest U.S. competitor.
Enterprise also continues to lead the home-city market with both car-rental and car-sharing options. Even before the 2007 launch of its car-sharing program, Enterprise provided hourly rentals to customers in New York and other large urban markets who rely on mass transit during the week or simply cannot afford to purchase or maintain a vehicle on their own. In fact, more than 15 years ago, Enterprise Rent-A-Car trademarked the term Virtual Car® when it recognized the strength and energy of local service, regardless if it is for an hour, a day, a week or longer.
This extensive local presence gives Enterprise a unique opportunity to introduce millions of customers to new, fuel-efficient models and other alternative technologies. And just like local car rental, car sharing -- which includes membership-driven products like fuel and damage waiver -- can help remove cars from the road, and, in turn, reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
In 2012, Enterprise acquired Mint Cars On-Demand in New York and Boston. Following the acquisition, Enterprise quickly upgraded the operation's retail car-sharing fleets with newer vehicles -- increasing fleet size and expanding service to new neighborhoods to better serve customers. Now offered under the Enterprise CarShare name, these vehicles are available to members around-the-clock, and available for hourly, daily and overnight rentals. Customers can sign up to be a member online at www.enterprisecarshare.com and easily reserve a vehicle.
Sustainability Initiatives
Beyond its fleet, Enterprise recognizes that its facilities have the next greatest impact on the communities where it operates. In 2010, Enterprise committed to reduce both energy use and costs by 20 percent companywide over five years through its 20/20 Vision initiative. That impact is already being realized in New York, where local energy use has been reduced by 10 percent. And that is only the beginning -- the facilities are working to achieve a cumulative reduction in energy use of 25 percent by 2015.
In addition, as part of the Enterprise 50 Million Tree Pledge, 30,000 trees are being planted this year at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. Since 2006, Enterprise has teamed with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service to plant one million trees each year for 50 years throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. Supported by a $50 million commitment from Enterprise, the private/public/nonprofit partnership has already resulted in nearly 8 million trees being planted in areas suffering damage from wildfires and other natural disasters. An interactive map of the plantings is available on the Enterprise's sustainability website drivingfutures.com.
About Enterprise CarShare
Enterprise CarShare offers a variety of clean, well-maintained vehicles at an affordable price, when and where customers need them, whether it is for an hour, a day, a weekend or longer. In 2011, Enterprise Holdings entered a major retail car-sharing market for the first time by acquiring PhillyCarShare in Philadelphia, and then, in 2012, it acquired Mint Cars On-Demand in Boston and New York City. Today, Enterprise CarShare offers hybrid, plug-in and fuel-efficient vehicles, delivering car-sharing technology's speed and economy nationwide to businesses, universities and government offices looking to enhance their fleet management operations along with their fiscal and social sustainability initiatives.
Contact Information:
For more information, contact:
Lisa Martini
Enterprise Holdings