Mayor Pro Tem David Sudduth joined representatives from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, GE, Duke Energy, the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Green Ribbon Advisory Committee this morning to announce that Greenville’s first car-sharing vehicles are now operational through WeCar by Enterprise. The vehicles are located adjacent to the McBee Avenue entrance in the City-owned Poinsett Garage.

Enterprise has deployed a Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf in downtown, creating its first electric vehicle (EV) car-sharing program in South Carolina. This initiative is a unique membership-based program for people who are looking for an alternative method of transportation and provides downtown office tenants, residents and hotel guests with the convenience of a cost effective, responsible and eco-friendly way to get around. The cars are available around the clock and can be used for an hour, a day, through the weekend or longer.

“WeCar is a natural extension of Enterprise and our longtime focus on customized local service,” said Cheryl Rothenberger, Director of Business Rental with Enterprise. “Our car-sharing program allows the general public to have options in their day-to-day travel while at the same time become familiar with an electric vehicle.”

The Nissan Leaf, which holds up to five passengers, is a Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) that is 100% electric, with an estimated 100 miles per charge based upon US EPA LA4 City cycle1. The Chevy Volt extended range vehicle features two sources of energy: a battery that allows the operator to drive gas–free for an EPA–estimated 35 miles and an onboard gas generator that produces electricity for a total of 375 miles on a full tank of gas.

WeCar by Enterprise is part of the City’s “Greening of Greenville” initiative, which kicked off in July 2011 and included three components: a pilot LED street lighting program on North Main Street; a review by Duke Energy of at least four buildings under its Smart $aver® Incentive Program and the launch of the EV Ecosystem. The LED street lights are in the process of being installed and 10 buildings have undergone a Smart $aver® review. The EV Ecosystem now has more than 40 vehicle charging stations installed throughout Greenville County and a number of businesses have rented electric vehicles from Enterprise, including Harper Corporation, Kemet, SCTAC and GSP International Airport. The launch of the EV car- sharing program represents the last component of the EV Ecosystem.

According to Mayor Pro Tem Sudduth, today’s announcement continues the City’s long history of public-private partnerships and is just part of a longer-term process to make Greenville greener and more livable for it citizens. “With the Main Street LED Pilot, the large number of buildings under review for energy savings by Duke and now completion of the EV Ecosystem with the addition of Enterprise’s car-sharing vehicles, Greenville continues to be national leader for sustainable programs,” said Sudduth.

For more information and to join the Greenville WeCar program, visit
http://www.wecar.com/content/car-sharing/en_US/join-wecar/program-details-greenville.html

For more information about the Greening of Greenville initiative, visit www.greeningofgreenville.com.