Rental company, lung association breathing easy

Environmental Vehicle (EV) Rental Cars and the American Lung Association of California (ALA-C) will fight air pollution in California together. The partnership will offer ALA-C staff, volunteers and donors discounts on purchases of used rental vehicles and special reduced rental rates at any of EV

EV Rental Cars is the only environmental vehicle rental company in the country. It offers electric, natural gas, hybrid electric, and super ultralow emission gasoline powered vehicles for rent through its association with Budget Rent-a -Car. It began renting vehicles in December 1998, with 11 electric cars at Los Angeles Airport, and since then has grown to more than 330 cars at 12 locations.

Rental Cars and the Lung Association expect as many as 200 individuals to take advantage of the offer to buy the vehicles, and more than 2,000 to utilize the special rental rates. This type of success would prevent the release of 20 tons of air pollution into California's skies, association officials say.