At East Coast Car Rentals, we believe actions speak louder than promises.
As a business built around helping Australians explore the country, we know we have a responsibility to reduce our environmental impact wherever we can. While we’re realistic about the challenges of operating a national vehicle fleet, we’re committed to making practical improvements that reduce emissions over time.
This plan outlines where we are today, what we’re doing now and where we’re heading next.
Where we are today
Today, over 20% of our national fleet is either hybrid or electric.
These vehicles are already available for customers to book today, with our electric vehicles primarily operating from our Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne locations where shorter urban journeys and charging infrastructure make them the best fit for our customers.
Our commitment
As we continue renewing our fleet, cleaner vehicles will become a larger part of our business.
Our current fleet purchasing policy is:
- A minimum of 10% of all new vehicle purchases will be fully electric.
- A minimum of 50% of all new vehicle purchases will be hybrid.
By applying these purchasing targets across every fleet renewal, we continue reducing the average emissions of our fleet while ensuring we maintain the reliability, range and flexibility our customers expect.
Taking a practical approach
Electric vehicles are an important part of our future, but we also recognise they aren’t yet the right solution for every journey.
Many of our customers travel long distances between regional destinations where charging infrastructure continues to develop. That’s why we’re taking a balanced approach by expanding both our hybrid and electric fleet, matching the right vehicle to the right type of travel.
Working within our footprint
As a national business, most of our branch locations operate from leased premises.
That means opportunities to make major building improvements—such as installing solar or undertaking large-scale energy upgrades—are often outside our direct control.
Where we can make changes, we will. Where we can’t, we’ll continue focusing on the areas we do control, particularly the ongoing transition of our vehicle fleet.
What’s next
Our focus over the coming years is simple:
- Continue increasing the proportion of hybrid and electric vehicles across our fleet.
- Expand electric vehicle availability where customer demand and charging infrastructure support it.
- Continue reviewing new vehicle technology as it becomes commercially viable.
- Look for practical opportunities to reduce emissions across our operations as our business evolves.
We’re committed to continuous improvement rather than chasing headlines. Every vehicle we replace is another opportunity to reduce our impact while continuing to deliver the great value, service and reliability our customers expect.