Uber offer new incentives for drivers to switch to electric

In their drive towards electrification, Uber have announced a series of measures to help their London-based drivers make the switch to EVs.

As from tomorrow, Uber drivers in the capital will be eligible for £5,000 grants  to spend on a new or used electric vehicle, funded through the company’s Clean Air Plan which was launched in 2019.

Additional discounts of between £12,000 and £17,000 are also being made available on certain models, such as Kia’s range of EVs which, when combined with the above grant, can amount to a £22,000 discount.

All Uber drivers with an electric vehicle will be eligible for three months of free charging credits (worth £750) and then an exclusive charging rate with bp pulse, with whom Uber announced a partnership last year.

Incentives are also being introduced for Londoners to choose electric taxis with the offer of a 10% discount to anyone booking their first trip with Uber Green trip. 

On top of this , Uber have been working with local authorities to expand the charging network in the city. One beneficiary of this is Redbridge Council, where a series of fast, new on-street EV chargers have been installed in a partnership project with Uber and Believ, who were awarded the contract to install, operate and maintain the chargers. 

Following the first leg of the project, local people now have access to 34 new 22kw dual fast chargers (so totalling 68 charge points) around the borough.

Redbridge Cabinet Member for Environment and Sustainability, Cllr Jo Blackman, said: ‘The installation of these new fast chargers in this innovative partnership with Uber and Believ marks another milestone in Redbridge’s commitment to developing the borough’s EV network. With more on-street chargers now available to local people than ever before we hope more people will have the confidence to switch from petrol and diesel, to electric.’

Commenting on the new initiatives from Uber, Oliver Lord, UK Head of Clean Cities, said: ‘This is an admirable step from Uber who are clearly doubling down on their commitment to fully electrify their rides in London. The additional funds and infrastructure for drivers should inspire even greater collaboration amongst policymakers, industry and civil society, so that electric vehicles and pedal power become an integral part of everyday life in the capital.

‘Uber’s announcement is a testament to London’s policies over the past few years and we now need to understand how these will evolve in the context of the Mayor’s ambition for a net zero carbon city by 2030. This is a crucial time for the Mayor to continue his leadership and to support high mileage drivers switching to electric and pedal power, including taxis, private hire and commercial vehicles.’