Under The Hood

<B> Under The Hood</B>

By Lynn Woods

<B>Budget Introduces Electric Cars</B>

Budget Rent a Car, in conjunction with EV Rental Cars, a firm that specializes in the rental of electric vehicles, is offering electric cars for rent at Los Angeles International Airport. Now nearly 20 vehicles, the fleet will be increased to 60 cars by spring. The cars are available for a daily rate of $39.95, and customers with a corporate account with Budget get a 20 percent discount. While at least one other car rental company has experimented with electric vehicles--in 1996, National Car Rental launched a year-long pilot with electric Hondas in the Sacramento area and at Burbank Airport--this is the first time electric rental cars have been available to the general public. The fleet includes Ford Rangers and Toyota Rav-4 EVs, both of which resemble conventional gasoline-powered cars, and two specially built models--the futuristic GM EV 1, a two-seater whose streamlined body is shaped like a raindrop, and the Honda EV Plus, which resembles a small minivan. Drivers can refuel the vehicles free of cost at more than 300 recharging stations located at public parking garages, hotels and office complexes, tourist attractions, shopping centers and Ralph's supermarkets throughout southern California. The cars have a range of 40 to 100 miles, depending on the model, and a maximum speed of 80 mph. The response was enthusiastic, with more than 80 rentals as of mid-January, said Terry O'Day, manager of planning and operations at EV Rental Cars. Budget plans to introduce electric cars at eight more locations in southern California by year-end. Possible future locations outside of California include Las Vegas, and Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.

<B>Hertz Rolls Out In-Car Navigation Systems</B>

In an exclusive joint venture with Magellan Corp., which manufactures in-car navigation systems and other products using satellite-access technology, Hertz Corp. will install a new generation of navigational systems in 50,000 of its vehicles in the United States, Canada and Europe beginning this summer. Unlike the other major car rental companies, which have either phased out or greatly reduced the number of vehicles with navigational systems, citing lack of interest by renters, Hertz has equipped more than 8,000 cars with its NeverLost system. The new, updated product, also called NeverLost, eventually will replace that system. A spokesperson said recently Hertz included NeverLost as an option that #1 Club Gold members could add to their profiles. Many have done so, helping Hertz decide to roll out the new system. The new NeverLost system can be installed in a vehicle in 15 minutes, giving Hertz the flexibility to offer it in a wider variety of vehicles.

Meanwhile, Avis Rent A Car is testing General Motors' OnStar emergency road service in some of its Cadillacs in Detroit. When the car's airbags are deployed in an accident, the system uses global positioning satellite technology and the in-car cellular phone to automatically notify service people on call at the remote OnStar Center to instantly dispatch help. The OnStar Center also can send a remote signal to unlock the door if the driver has locked the keys in the car, and it can track stolen vehicles. OnStar also can find the nearest ATM, airport, gas station, hospital, hotel, restaurant or other location.