Today, Uber is hosting its annual Go-Get conference in London, where it is unveiling various updates to its ride-hailing and delivery services in response to the increasing number of drivers and couriers utilizing electric vehicles.
The Uber Green initiative, which focuses on electric and hybrid rides, is transitioning to a fully electric model in several chosen cities. According to the company, Uber Green has become an exclusive EV service in 40 cities and states.
In the past, Uber Green included a mix of electric and hybrid vehicles, allowing drivers to earn an additional per-trip fee, typically around $1, for using cars that produced lower tailpipe emissions.
However, the service is now shifting to feature only battery-electric vehicles, highlighting the growing number of drivers on the platform who are adopting EVs.
Uber reports that there are currently 180,000 drivers utilizing electric vehicles across the US, Canada, and Europe.
The updated Uber Green service, now exclusively featuring electric vehicles, is offered in 40 cities, such as New York City, Los Angeles, New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, San Diego, Orange County, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs.
On the international front, it will be accessible in every city in France, including Paris, as well as various locations in Australia and New Zealand, with Sydney, Melbourne, and Auckland being notable examples.
Customers looking to opt for greener rides can now modify their account settings to prioritize electric vehicles whenever they are available.
Uber has created this feature to ensure that if the estimated time of arrival (ETA) for an EV is close to that of a regular UberX, a battery-electric vehicle will be dispatched. However, if the wait time is significantly longer, the system will assign a gas-powered vehicle instead.
These updates to the app enhance modifications implemented by the company last year aimed at encouraging its two primary customer groups—passengers and delivery users, as well as drivers and couriers—to make more eco-conscious choices.
By promoting such decisions, Uber aims to improve its chances of achieving its sustainability targets, which include becoming fully carbon neutral in North America and Europe by 2030 and in all markets worldwide by 2040.
As part of this initiative, Uber revealed a partnership with the Chinese automotive manufacturer BYD last July, with plans to introduce approximately 100,000 electric vehicles for Uber drivers, initially focusing on Europe and Latin America.
Despite the push towards electric vehicles, drivers still have numerous inquiries regarding the transition to EVs. In response, the company plans to introduce a new chatbot within its driver app to address some of the fundamental questions.
Utilizing OpenAI’s GPT-4o, this chatbot aims to assist drivers with queries about which vehicle models to consider, where to find charging stations, and how to determine an adequate range. According to the company, this feature is set to be released in early 2025.
Uber is leveraging its drivers who use electric vehicles to mentor those interested in making the switch to EVs.
A new mentorship initiative will be introduced through the company’s Greenlight driver resource center, enabling experienced EV drivers to connect with their peers who are considering the transition.
Participating Uber drivers can earn cash rewards and additional bonuses for their involvement in the program.
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