Nissan and Europcar has announced that Nissan LEAF, the award-winning 100% electric car, will be available for short term hire in two of the world’s busiest capitals: London and Paris. From February, the 2011 World and European Car of The Year will be available for hire bringing the LEAF to a wider audience.

“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 SA. “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 is for drivers currently unsure whether an EV is suitable for their needs. By renting a Nissan LEAF and living with it in real world conditions they can evaluate the car in their own time,” he added.

The Nissan LEAF has a homologated range of 110 miles (175km), which is more than 90% of UK commuters drive in a day.

“Europcar has long believed in electric vehicles as a sustainable means of mobility and is committed to enabling early adoption of this type of vehicle. We are proud to partner with Nissan to facilitate expansion of electric vehicles and provide our customers with the greenest possible mobility solutions,” said Rafael Girona, Chief Operating Officer of Europcar.

Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group said: “Hiring a Nissan LEAF could be the ideal option for motorists keen to reduce their fuel costs and avoid congestion charges. 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.”