Posted on June 18, 2008 by Fiona Hilliard

Record fuel prices in the US and the UK mean more and more car rental companies are taking the hybrid route this year and it’s easy to see why.  Hybrid cars use electricity when the fuel is powered off. 

Enterprise Rent A Car for example, first got involved in hybrid vehicles last year to show their eco-friendliness but it seems in these days of credit crunching, necessity is the mother of invention with the rollout of hybrid vehicles speeding up considerably. 

Today the average cost of petrol in the UK is 118.16p (€1.48) per litre, while diesel now costs 131.56p (€165.84) per litre.  Meanwhile US gas prices have soared to $4 per gallon.   

Car hire companies are adding hybrids to their sites at a time when consumers are choosing them as their everyday run-arounds.

One satisfied customer is Fort Worth driver Bob Spence.  He bought a Toyota Camry hybrid earlier this year and has seen his fuel bills cut in half since purchasing the vehicle.  Commenting on his green driving experience he had this to say:

“With gas being what it is, you would have to whup me to take this car away from me.”