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It's So Easy Bein' Green: Zipcar and Whole Foods Mark Earth Day With Free Rides Home in Hybrid Priuses

NEW YORK, April 15 -- Zipcar, the country's largest car- sharing company, offering cars for use by the hour or day, is helping customers at Whole Foods Market(TM) learn about how they can support the environment while getting their groceries home. Zipcar is partnering with Whole Foods Market(TM) to celebrate Earth Day. Zipcar is offering customers at the Whole Foods Market(TM) Chelsea store a ride home in the environmentally friendly green machines, the gas/electric hybrid Toyota Prius, a staple of the Zipcar fleet.

This promotion is part of Whole Foods Market(TM) "Green Week," an extended celebration of Earth Day. On Monday, April 18 through Wednesday, April 20, Zipcar will be at the Chelsea store on 24th Street and 7th Avenue, offering eco-friendly rides home to any customer who spends over $100 at Whole Foods.

As part of the celebration, Zipcar will be encouraging residents to make the environmentally and community-conscious choice to switch to car-sharing by allowing Whole Foods customers at the Chelsea location to join Zipcar at the discounted rate of just $25 if they sign up before Saturday April 23, 2005.

"Earth Day is an opportunity for everyone to consider how they can do their part to make New York City a greener place to live," said Julian Espiritu, Regional Vice President of Zipcar. "Considering our city's vehicle emissions, overcrowded streets and lack of parking spaces, one dramatic way New Yorkers can make an important and valuable change is by giving up their car and switching to car-sharing."

Zipcar's service has a significant, positive impact on the environment, significantly decreasing parking demands, traffic congestion and greenhouse emissions and replacing older vehicles with newer cars that have more stringent pollution controls. By providing conveniently located cars that residents want to drive, 40% of Zipcar's members have either sold their car or avoided buying a new one. With over 35,000 members, that represents over 12,500 vehicles taken off the roads.

Recent studies by Zipcar indicate that each Zipcar takes over 20 privately owned vehicles off the road. Thirty-nine percent of Zipcar members stated that they would have kept their vehicle, or would have purchased a primary or secondary vehicle if Zipcar's car-sharing service had not been available in their city. Zipcar members also report they save an average of $435 per month, and drive more than 4,000 miles less each year compared to the average cost of owning a vehicle in an urban setting.

About Zipcar

Since 2000, when Zipcars first hit the road, Zipcar has emerged as the largest car-sharing service in the United States with over 35,000 members and 500+ vehicles in over eight states and 21 cities. In 2005, Zipcar began to execute its aggressive national rollout and plans to be in 25 major metro markets by 2009. Zipcar provides personal drivers and businesses with 24/7 self-service access to a full range of vehicles conveniently located around the city including over 20 different makes and models, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, Cooper Mini and BMW 325i. In New York, rates start at $8.50

/hour and $65/day; gas, parking, insurance and XM Satellite Radio are included in all reservations. To learn more, visit http://www.zipcar.com/ .

About Whole Foods Market

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market ( http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/ ) is the world's leading natural and organic foods supermarket and America's first national certified organic grocer. In fiscal year 2004, the company had sales of $3.9 billion and currently has 169 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The Whole Foods Market(TM) motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"(TM) captures the company's mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Whole Foods Market(TM), Harry's Farmers Market(R), and Fresh & Wild(R) are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP. Whole Foods Market(TM) employs more than 33,000 team members and has been ranked for eight consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by Fortune magazine.