The Biden Administration and Democratic congressional leaders want to convert light-duty fleet vehicles to electric or other non-fossil fuel engines within the next 10 to 15 years. In response, automakers are announcing plans to stop selling gasoline-powered vehicles by or before 2035.

What does this mean for the car rental industry? In response, the board of the American Car Rental Association (ACRA) has adopted a “Statement on Sustainable Mobility,” which was written by ACRA’s Mobility Task Force.

Each year, ACRA members purchase one in every eight new light-duty vehicles sold in the U.S. And 25% of all U.S. light-duty vehicle miles travelled yearly are in a rented vehicle. Most likely, a driver’s first experience in a zero-emissions vehicle will be in the rental car context.

“Combining all these factors, the car rental industry likely is the most important shared mobility stakeholder for converting ‘motor vehicle trips’ by an individual to ‘zero emission vehicle trips’ – even more important than individually-owned vehicles,” according to ACRA’s “Statement on Sustainable Mobility” letter.