When people are renting cars from companies like Hertz and Enterprise, they are now asking for a hybrid.  To meet demands, the rental car industry is adding more and more hybrids to fleets.

In the next several months, Enterprise will have a hybrid fleet of 5,000, while Hertz, is planning to add 2,400 hybrids to its current 1,000.  Is this all because of high gas prices?

Not really.  Hybrids actually cost approximately $24 more per day to rent than non-hybrids.  The rental companies believe that people want more eco-friendly cars, not just cars that will save people on gas costs.

Now offered by National, Enterprise, and Alamo are a carbon offsetting option.  In other words, for an extra $1.25 you can pay so that the average carbon emissions from your rental are offset.  The money is donated by the companies to programs that aid in removing carbon out of the atmosphere and plant trees.

The increased hybrid demand for rental fleets will make it even harder for consumers to find hybrids to purchase.  However, at some point the rental car companies will end up selling their hybrids to consumers.  This is beneficial to consumers because the cars will most likely still have an auto warranty.