WASHINGTON - Last week the Hertz Corporation announced the expansion of its Global EV initiative to Washington, D.C., adding all electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, including the Chevy Volt and Nissan LEAF to its fleet at Union Station.

Hertz is making the EVs available to members of Congress, employees on Capitol Hill and the general public through its car sharing operation.

"Washington, D.C., a major transportation hub in the northeast corridor, is a natural city for Hertz Global EV, and we look forward to helping move the 'electrification of transportation' dialog from policy to practice in D.C.; building awareness and interest in EVs and PHEVs among the city's residents," commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO.

The EV and PHEV Hertz fleet in Washington will serve a testing ground for consumers as automakers ramp up production to achieve the goal of becoming the first country to have 1 million EVs on the road by 2015. The first vehicles will be located at Union Station, just blocks from Capitol Hill.

"This is an opportunity for policymakers to experience first-hand the capabilities and pleasure of driving advanced EV vehicles," said U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA).

Hertz car sharing has approximately 30,000 members and is available in six countries and on 54 university campuses. Hertz plans to deploy of EVs and PHEVs in both the U.S. and other countries throughout 2011. Hertz is uniquely positioned to introduce multiple groups of consumers ?" urban drivers, university students, travelers and corporations ?" to all-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. As part of its strategy, Hertz is forming partnerships with automakers, charging station providers, municipalities, NGOs, corporations and other stakeholders. To date, the company has ordered vehicles from GM, Nissan, Toyota and Mitsubishi, and has signed an agreement with NRG Energy Inc. to support development of a charging infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EV) in Texas.