Customers can now rent electric vehicles (EVs) from Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 11 California cities, according to an Oct. 27 press release. EVs and charging stations were added to rental locations in Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Encino, Newport Beach and Riverside.

Already operating a large network of EV rentals in California, Enterprise offers EVs in Ontario, Pasadena, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks.

Enterprise currently rents Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts and does not charge a refueling fee for vehicles returned without a full charge.

“We’re focusing much of our electric vehicle rental rollout efforts in California due to the state’s commitment to EV infrastructure development,” said Lee Broughton, head of corporate sustainability for Enterprise Holdings. “Our customers can experience the ultimate test drive when renting a vehicle. With the largest network of car rental locations, Enterprise is a key part of the value chain, helping manufacturers conduct hundreds of thousands of test drives that are essential to the adoption of new technologies like EVs.”

Many of the Californian communities working in conjunction with Enterprise have been active in the advancement of electric vehicle infrastructure and adoption. The Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council’s Plug In Santa Barbara group, which is leading the installation efforts in Santa Barbara, also has plans to have 50 charging stations installed by the end of 2011 and is developing an EV Readiness Plan for the entire Central Coast.

“The addition of electric vehicles to Enterprise’s downtown Santa Barbara rental location helps move us toward our goal of providing residents and visitors with sustainable transportation options,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider.

Enterprise’s focus on sustainable vehicle technology led it to join the U.S. Department of Energy’s “Clean Cities,” a national clean fleet partnership, this year.