Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 9:03am PDT | Modified: July 27, 2010, 9:03 AM

Enterprise buying 500 electric cars from Nissan (St. Louis)

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Enterprise Rent-A-Car said Tuesday it plans to buy 500 electric cars from Nissan starting in January 2011.

With a retail price of more than $30,000 for each Nissan LEAF, Enterprise plans to spend an estimated $15 million on its new electric vehicle fleet.

The St. Louis-based car rental giant said it will initially roll out the Nissan LEAFs, which use no gasoline and do not produce greenhouse gas emissions, in eight markets: Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; San Diego; Los Angeles; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle.

Enterprise said it is introducing the Japanese electric vehicles to a limited number of branches so it can properly train its employees to show customers how to use and charge the vehicles.

The cars can be charged using a standard 110-volt home outlet, or a 220-volt or 480-volt commercial charging station. Most electric vehicles can travel about 100 miles on a single charge, accommodating the travel habits of a daily commuter who drives an average of about 40 miles a day.

Beginning November 2010, Enterprise said it install charging stations at some of its locations, including several of the Enterprise “hybrid branches,” or nearly 100 designated locations that offer hybrids and other environmentally friendly rental options in 30 different markets.

Enterprise said it plans to offer customers electric vehicles from other manufacturers as they become available.

“As a company that owns and operates the world's largest fleet of passenger vehicles, we have a vested interest and a history of working with manufacturers to integrate alternative-powered vehicles into our fleet,” said Lee Broughton, director of sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, which owns and operates Enterprise Rent-A-Car as well as the Alamo Rent A Car and National Car Rental brands. “With airport and neighborhood locations within 15 miles of 90 percent of the U.S. population, our Enterprise Rent-A-Car offices are uniquely positioned to test the market viability of new alternative fuel technologies like the electric vehicle with daily commuters nationwide.”

Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.