The announcement came just a week after launching Hertz Electrifies Denver.
Hertz CEO Stephen Scherr and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner announced the plan to expand the availability of EVs, charging infrastructure, and EV education and training opportunities in Houston. The initiative aligns with Mayor Turner's Houston Climate Action Plan – a strategy that sets out to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve regional air quality, and build climate resilience.
"As Hertz creates the largest EV rental fleet in North America, we look forward to working with the city, Lone Star College-North Harris and other organisations to expand the benefits of electrification in the Houston community," said Scherr.
Hertz aims to bring over 2,100 rental EVs to Houston, nearly tripling its existing EV fleet in the city – including models from Tesla, Polestar, and GM – for availability to leisure and business customers as well as rideshare drivers. In partnership with BP Pulse, Hertz will support the installation of a large, EV fast-charging hub designed to serve ride-hail, taxi fleets, and the general public at the Hertz location at Houston Hobby airport.
"Reliable, fast-charging options are critical to scale EV adoption in America and we are thrilled to work with Hertz to bring fast charging to the Houston community. Along with our partnership with Hertz to develop a Gigahub site at its Houston Hobby Airport location, we are also developing a charging hub at BP's corporate HQ campus in Houston that will be open to the public," said Vic Shao, president of BP Pulse Fleet. "We look forward to bringing more fast-charging options to more Americans, and closing the infrastructure gap that is hindering wide scale EV adoption."
Hertz is donating an electric vehicle and providing EV educational and training materials to Lone Star College-North Harris to enable the school to incorporate EV technology into its auto servicing curriculum. Hertz is also making summer jobs available to young people in Houston, including through the Hire Houston Youth Summer Jobs program.
