Europcar Gets 100 Yaris Hybrids

Europe’s car rental business is also going green, and the spearhead of it, Europcar, is setting an example by ordering 100 new Toyota Yaris Hybrids. This will be much to the rejoice of those operating in busy parts of London, as the vehicles will be Green Vehicle Discount (GVD) registered, in anticipation of the new, tighter Congestion Charge rules to be implemented in capital later this year. With CO₂ emissions from 79 g/km, Yaris Hybrid offers Europcar customers access to congestion-charge-free driving, reducing their costs and carbon footprint. The new Yaris Hybrid will be available to book and collect from all Europcar locations, subject to availability. This going green thing only works with cheaper cars. for instance, they cannot offer a Fisker Karma as the green luxury option, because the pricing won’t make sense to anyone into renting cars. Europcar press release: “The Toyota Yaris Hybrid is an exciting addition to our growing fleet of hybrid vehicles, it is the first model to be GDV registered, in preparation for the changes to the Congestion Charge,” Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group said. “The new GDV limit looks set to be 80g/km and the Yaris Hybrid falls under this, ensuring we continue to help travellers minimise their motoring costs and make greener driving choices.” The new Toyota Yaris Hybrid is the first European B-segment car to offer full hybrid technology and, thanks to clever packaging, load space is not compromised by the battery pack. With the ability to travel on electric power alone at lower speeds, Yaris hybrid is perfect for urban use with a quiet seamless drive and zero emissions. Ewan Shepherd, General Manager for Toyota Fleet said: “Toyotais a global leader and pioneer of hybrid technology and Yaris Hybrid allows us to introduce this technology to a much wider customer base.  With Europcar adding vehicles to its fleet it gives their customers a chance to experience hybrid technology first-hand, as well as helping them to make an informed choice about reducing their driving costs and vehicle emissions.” Ken McCall added: “Rising fuel costs and a focus on more eco-friendly vehicles means we are seeing an increase in demand for electric and hybrid vehicles.  Europcar is constantly investing in the quality of its fleet and the addition of Yaris Hybrid demonstrates our commitment to greener technology that meets the needs of our customers.”