Enterprise Rent-a-Car Buying 500 Nissan LEAF Battery Electric Vehicles

The next time you need to rent a car, why not drive a battery electric vehicle to your final destination?

Enterprise Rent-a-Car has announced it is purchasing 500 LEAF vehicles from Nissan Motor Company for over $12 million.

Beginning in January 2011, the zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) will initially be available only in select cities – Phoenix, Tucson, Knoxville, Nashville, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle.

The LEAF can be charged using a standard 110-volt outlet or commercial charging station. In November, Enterprise plans on installing charging stations at select rental locations. The car rental company plans on offering other electric vehicles as they become available.

Although the estimated base price of the LEAF is over $32,000, Enterprise will receive a $7,500 federal tax credit on each battery electric vehicle. Consumers may also be eligible for tax credits and incentives. The Nissan LEAF will be available for purchase nationwide by the end of 2011. According to reports, about 17,000 people in the U.S. have already placed orders for the new LEAF.