Rental car giant, Hertz has partnered with Clean Energy Fuels Corp to build, operate and supply compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelling stations to its Los Angeles Airport facility.

In addition to supporting Hertz’s expanding clean-burning CNG airport shuttle bus fleet in Los Angeles, the new CNG fuelling station would have been accessible to the public 24/7.

Costing less than diesel or gasoline, compressed natural gas fuel produces approximately 30 per cent less greenhouse gas emissions in light-duty vehicles, and more than 23 per cent lower greenhouse gas emissions in medium to heavy-duty vehicles. Additionally, the US Department of Energy reports estimate that 98 per cent of the natural gas consumed in the US is sourced in the US and Canada, meaning that the fuel has lower transport mileage than most of the equivalent gasoline fuel used in the country.

"Introducing CNG shuttle buses and fueling stations to support compressed natural gas is an integral part of Hertz’s stewardship of the environment," commented Mark P. Frissora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Hertz Corporation. "Partnering with Clean Energy reinforces our mission to minimize the environmental impact from our operations and we’re excited to be able to support our shuttle fleet while also allowing other airport entities access to the CNG station."

"Our partnership with Hertz will allow Clean Energy to build a much needed CNG station at Los Angeles Airport," said James Harger, Clean Energy Chief Marketing Officer. "The transition by the airport industry and allied services from diesel to natural gas for ground transportation is accelerating rapidly, in response to the need to curtail emissions, decrease fuel costs, and reduce dependence on imported oil and our partnership with Hertz will facilitate this transition to compressed natural gas."

The fuelling station will be built adjacent to the busy Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The Hertz LAX facility will include public access fuelling islands for local fleets of CNG taxis and shared-ride vans, plus hotel, parking, and rental car buses. Station construction is expected to begin in March and be completed by the third quarter of 2011. By 2015, Hertz expects to have transitioned its entire LAX transit bus fleet to clean, green, domestic CNG gas power.

Buck