Driving sustainability...

The Hertz Corporation is to partner with Minddrive, a non-profit educational programme, to educate local communities in the US about sustainable mobility via a cross country road trip in an electric vehicle built by Minddrive students. Minddrive teaches at-risk high school students business and technology-based skills by converting older model cars into electric vehicles.

To help raise awareness about green transport and travel, Hertz is sponsoring the Minddrive teams’ cross country road trip this summer, as well as providing support vehicles from its Green Traveler Collection. The Green Traveler Collection includes high fuel economy and alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrids, electric vehicles and clean diesel. The 2013 Minddrive campaign includes rebuilding a 1967 Karmann Ghia into a fully electric, low-speed, neighbourhood car.

The team will be touring the US in the rebuilt EV to help raise awareness about the education programme. From there, students will replicate the neighbourhood car design using sustainable materials, including moulded plywood and fibreglass, resulting in a lightweight, ultra-efficient and sustainable vehicle. This Series 2 Karmann Ghia will become a kit car for low-production resale.