Shanghai was selected earlier this year as a pilot city for the country’s electric vehicles, and Hertz has become the first company to form a partnership with the China (Shanghai) International EV Pilot City programme, introducing a network of charging points accessible to business, government and public users.

Hertz has also formed partnerships with GE Industrial Solutions China and the country’s largest domestic car manufacturer, BYD, to offer leasing and charging solutions for the world’s biggest market. The BYD e6 electric five-seat MPV will become a part of the Hertz rental fleet in China.

Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and chief executive officer, said: ‘China has committed to rapidly expand electric vehicle travel and Hertz is committed to supporting the important EV Pilot City program.

‘Working with our existing rental car network in China and partners such as GE, we are dedicated to helping build the necessary EV infrastructure in China and to create a new transportation solution that employs the latest technology and harnesses innovations being launched in China today.’

Hertz also has electric vehicle rental programmes in New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, London and is expanding to other European cities.