Reports now show that the car rental giant Sixt will be expanding its partnership with energy firm RWE. They will be offering customers in Germany the opportunity to rent electric cars.

Ever since May 3, 2010, models of the Karabag 500 E, based of course on the popular Fiat 500 and the Micro Vett Fiorino E, based on the Fiorino small van, will be available to hire in Essen until June 30^th 2010. Subsequently, they will be available to rent in Munich, Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden over the next 12 months.

The rental price of the Karabag 500 E is currently set at €59 per day, while the Micro-Vett Fiorino E can be rented for €79 per day. Both prices include unlimited kilometers. They also say that the electricity for these cars costs just 4 cents per kilometer. The vehicles come equipped with Sat Navs that display the locations of RWE’s charging stations across Germany.

In hiring these electric cars, Sixt gains an important lead on rivals including Europcar and Hertz. Both companies intend to rent electric models in 2011 supplied from Nissan.

Sixt and RWE have already been working together as part of the RWE Autostrom Roadshow, which is providing drivers in Germany, Australia, Switzerland and the Netherlands with the opportunity to test stylish electric cars.

The Area Manager for Electro Mobility at RWE, Carolin Reichert, said that electric cars are the solution for environmentally sound mobility. In an effort to expedite their acceptance, RWE is bringing electric mobility to the people, together with Sixt. The Autostrom Roadshow has done well around Germany in past years, and this year should prove to be no different.