Air Date: Week of July 5, 2002

Living on Earth’s Jennifer Chu reports on the only electric vehicle rental agency in the United States.

Transcript

CURWOOD: Just ahead, designer genes, as in genetics. First, this environmental business note from Jennifer Chu.

[EBN THEME]

CHU: Los Angeles may be the city of angels, but it’s also a notorious center of air pollution. A good chunk of that comes from the millions of vehicles traveling along the freeways of L.A. every day. But if you’re in town for business or pleasure, there’s an environmentally friendly alternative to putting fossil fuels into the atmosphere. EV Rental is the only electric vehicle rental agency in the country, located at the Los Angeles International Airport. The company started in 1998, and deals exclusively in natural gas, hybrid and electric vehicles. Congress recently gave the agency $2 million to expand its operations. Company officials say the money will be used as down payment to purchase 350 hybrid electric vehicles from Honda and Toyota. That would increase its fleet by more than 100%. EV Rental estimates that since opening it has reduced the amount of vehicle emissions originating from the airport by 25 tons. It has also saved 200,000 gallons of gasoline. So far, L.A. is the company’s major host, but electric vehicle lovers can find branches in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C. That’s this week’s business note. I’m Jennifer Chu.

CURWOOD: And you’re listening to Living on Earth.

[MUSIC: The Orange Peels, "Tex", SQUARE (Minty Fresh - 1997)]

 

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