The National Environmental Trust (NET), on its Pollution Solutions Tour, is traveling across the country to demonstrate energy efficiency techniques and the technology that anyone can use right now to help combat global warming. The tour began in March and will continue through June, visiting more than 50 cities in 18 states.

Enter EV Rental and the Honda Insight hybrid vehicle. This is the car that will kick off the Pollution Solutions Tour. Eric Howard, an environmental educator from NET, will drive the vehicle to New Orleans, La. and there he will meet up with other members of NET and continue the tour.

EV Rental recently allowed ARN to test drive the Honda Insight. It’s a two-seater offering great environmentally friendly features. The Insight is equipped with a three-cylinder engine and a battery, which provides the hybrid with electric power. It also has two gauges, one for the fuel and the other for the battery. Above those there are two more gauges called, charge and assist. They show whether the car is using fuel or is being assisted with electricity.

EV Rental will offer a fleet of five Honda Insight cars for rent. During the year 40 to 50 more will be added. They will rent for an introductory rate of $99 per day.

The Honda Insight can travel 600 to 700 miles on a single tank of gas. Terry O’Day, manager of operations and planning for EV Rental, says that the Insight is economical in three ways. The body is made of aluminum, so it is light. It is electric assisted, so it saves on fuel. And, a feature called auto stop turns the engine off when the vehicle is at a stop signal and in neutral (the Insight is manual transmission).