The new hybrids will be be available at nearly 80 locations in 24 major markets across the U.S. Enterprise is calling these locations “hybrid branches” to underscore their high concentration of new hybrid cars. Also, for the first time, customers will be able to reserve these hybrids online or by phone.

The Enterprise family of companies is owned by the Taylor Family and includes the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands. According to a press release, Enterprise has the industry’s most comprehensive environmental sustainability platform. Here are a fe highlights of that platform:

• Embracing new, clean technologies. In addition to the focus on hybrids, Enterprise has designated eight “E85/FlexFuel” branches where as much as 30 percent of the local fleets are FlexFuel vehicles capable of using E85 (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline). Enterprise fuels those vehicles from a nearby E85 fueling station.

• The world’s largest fleet of fuel-efficient vehicles. Nearly 450,000 cars in the combined Enterprise, National and Alamo fleet average a highway fuel efficiency rating of at least 28 mpg or better; nearly 230,000 average 32 mpg or better; and nearly 425,000 have earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay certification mark – a distinction the EPA grants to vehicles that emit relatively low levels of both regulated pollutants and greenhouse gases such as CO2.

• Customer Carbon Offsets. Enterprise, National and Alamo customers can offset the CO2 emissions of their rental cars by opting to pay $1.25 per rental to fund certified offset projects through TerraPass. The company’s charitable foundation will match customer contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $1 million.

• Research. In 2007, the Taylor family donated $25 million to create the Enterprise Rent-A-Car Institute for Renewable Fuels, where top scientists are working on alternatives to finite fossil fuels by finding new ways to create fuel from renewable, reliable plant sources.

• Conservation. The company’s charitable foundation has pledged $50 million to plant 50 million trees over 50 years through the 50 Million Tree Pledge, a public/private/nonprofit partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service. Trees are being planted on public lands in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

All told, over the past several years the Taylor family and their companies have contributed or pledged more than $120 million to environmental initiatives.  For more information about the full environmental platform, visit www.keystogreen.com. Enjoy green steps program!