Enterprise Rent-a-Car showed off the first electric cars available for rent in Hawaii on Tuesday, saying it plans to market the vehicles to both visitors and local residents.

The company’s initial fleet consists of seven Nissan Leafs on Oahu. Enterprise plans to have about 30 of the cars on the island by the end of the year, said Paul Kopel, vice president and general manager for Hawaii.

Hawaii is one of just a handful of North American markets chosen by Enterprise for the launch of its electric vehicle program, Kopel said. That’s in part because limited driving distances are a good fit for a car like the Leaf, which has a range of 80 to 100 miles on a single charge.

"We could have been first by offering just one electric vehicle, but we’re committed to getting about 30 of them," Kopel said. "Even after rebates its going to be about a $1 million commitment on the part of Enterprise Rent-a-Car in electric vehicles. We’re not just sticking our toe in the water here. We’re making a major commitment."

Electric cars eventually will be available in all 26 Enterprise locations across the state. Enterprise, which has made serving local communities a part of its business model, will do the same with the electric cars, Kopel said. Some customers might want to rent an electric car from Enterprise when their own vehicle is in the shop. Others might want to get a feel for an EV before buying one.

Enterprise unveiled the Leafs at its airport location along with two new charging stations capable of charging two cars each. Enterprise plans to have 10 to 15 charging stations at its Oahu locations by year’s end.

Enterprise in recent weeks has been having employees drive the Leafs so the company can learn more about their range and how they operate in different driving conditions.

The company initially will rent the Leafs to corporate clients and state employees from the neighbor islands who are in Honolulu on business, said Chris Sbarbaro, Enterprise’s vice president for rental in Hawaii. Limiting the customer base in the beginning will allow Enterprise to better monitor use of the electric cars, he said.

While pricing has not been finalized, Sbarbaro said the rate probably will be comparable to the company’s hybrids, which rent for $40 to $50 a day.

The average distance driven by tourists is about 30 to 40 miles a day, he said.

"We think it is perfect fit. We’re just waiting to have more of these charging stations available so people can feel comfortable going to other parts of the island," he said.