The release of the government’s Stern Report on climate change has prompted two businessmen to launch the UK’s first green car and van rental company.

Go Green is the brainchild of David Blackhurst and David Bramhill, who have taken over a former Avis rental centre in Crewe and turned it into an enterprise committed to operating carbon neutral level.

The firm offers a range of low-emission and hybrid vehicles from a site that uses renewable energy wherever possible.

Additionally, 1% of the business’ annual turnover goes to local schools to enable children to learn of the importance of environmental conservation.

“We believe we can make a positive environmental impact and enable a great many people out there to do their bit for the environment,” said managing director Mr Blackhurst.

“The Stern Report’s findings shocked and disturbed me. So after reading about the huge impact of pollution on our world, I asked myself what I could do about it. After many years in the car and van rental business I realised I could use that knowledge and experience to come up with an environmentally friendly alternative.”

Director Mr Bramhill said: “At this point, vehicles with hybrid engines and conventional low-emission cars and vans make up our fleet. As new ‘greener’ options come along we will go for them, as long as they are practical and sensible.”

  • Fleet management firm CLM has taken delivery of 10 Honda Civic Hybrids, which it plans to make available to its corporate customers. The vehicles, which boast CO2 emissions of 109g/km and are exempt from the London congestion charge, will be available through CLM’s daily rental operation to all fleet customers.