The Nissan LEAF is now available to rent through Europcar in London and Paris.

Nissan and Europcar have teamed up to offer Nissan LEAFs for rent in London and Paris. "There are two distinct reasons for joining forces with Europcar to introduce Nissan LEAF to the short term rental market in these two busy cities," said Guillaume Cartier, vice-president for sales operations at Nissan International. "The first is obvious. With its absence of tailpipe emissions and an outstanding driving pleasure, the Nissan LEAF is the perfect car for the inner city." The second reason, according to Cartier, is the one that could have a more vital impact on the future of electric cars: it would be a low-risk way for drivers to get their first taste of electric driving. "By renting a Nissan LEAF and living with it in real world conditions, they can evaluate the car in their own time," said Cartier.

Europcar will recharge all rental LEAFs at not cost and will waive the usual refuleing fee. Additionally, a Europcar representative trained in electric vehicle technology will meet face-to-face with renters to explain how the vehicle functions. Renters will also have free access to a Nissan hotline, which has been established to answer any questions related to the LEAF.

"Hiring a Nissan LEAF could be the ideal option for motorists keen to reduce their fuel costs and avoid congestion charges," said Ken McCall, managing director of Europcar UK. "At the forefront of electric vehicle technology, it fits perfectly with our philosophy of pioneering sustainable car hire solutions, giving customers a real choice when it comes to car hire."

The pilot scheme runs for three months and, if successful, could lead to LEAF rentals in additional cities throughout Europe. LEAF rental programs have also been established at select Enterprise and Hertz locations in the United States, and are in fact being used to evaluate the technology. Last week, Hertz announced it will be one of six organizations taking part in a three-month pilot program to test cars that charge up, not by plugging in, but by wirelessly connecting to a charging device on the ground below the parked car.