A national rental car company is planning to add up to 6,000 electric vehicles to its fleet in Orlando.
Last week, officials from Hertz and the city of Orlando launched Hertz Electrifies Orlando, a new partnership program aimed at adding electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and education and training for EVs throughout the city.
The public-private partnership will also include Orange County Public Schools, which converted part of its fleet to electric vehicles earlier this year.
The new program will operate in multiple cities across the United States, with the goal of expanding the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles through the addition of electric vehicle fleets and charging infrastructure.
The city of Orlando currently has a goal to convert 100% of its municipal fleet to electric or alternative fuel vehicles by 2030. As part of the city’s efforts, charging infrastructure will be expanded across the entire community in order to make Orlando one of the most “equitable and future-ready cities in the nation,” according to city officials.
In addition to expanding infrastructure, the program hopes to make EVs available to rideshare drivers through a partnership with Uber, which has already put thousands of EVs on city streets. On average, drivers with EVs take home a net income that is 10 to 15% higher than when they drive gas-powered vehicles.
Currently, Orlando has nearly three dozen publicly-accessible charging stations around the city, with a fast-charging hub currently under design and development for downtown. For information on the electric vehicle charging infrastructure, visit the city of Orlando website.