Uber: Changing the way the world rides (again) by going all-in on electric

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By The Climate Pledge

Uber has set ambitious goals to electrify its fleet and reduce emissions. The company is investing in driver incentives, infrastructure, and partnerships to accelerate this transition.

“It’s time to speed up, not slow down, on an all-electric future. We believe the future of cities must be shared, autonomous, and electric, but getting there will require all of us. Climate is the ultimate team sport and we can make progress much faster when industry and government leaders take ambitious action together. That’s why we’re proud to be a part of The Climate Pledge that brings together industry leaders pushing the edge of climate ambition.”

Andrew MacDonald

Senior Vice President of Mobility, Uber

By the numbers:

- 143,000: the approximate number of active zero emission vehicle drivers active on Uber globally as of Q1 of 2024

- 66 million: the number of tailpipe-emissions-free trips completed on Uber in Q1 of 2024 – an average 500 zero-emission vehicle trips per minute

- 9%: the percentage of all on-trip miles completed by zero emissions vehicles in Europe during Q1 of 2024

- 8%: the percentage of all on-trip miles completed by zero emissions vehicles in Canada and U.S. during Q1 of 2024

Uber fundamentally changed how we get around. Now Uber is working toward a more sustainable future. The company set a goal of making 100% of its rides in the United States, Canada, and Europe to be electric by 2030, and all rides globally electric by 2040. Given Uber’s scale, their transition to electric has an outsized impact on its indirect climate emissions. To drive that change as fast as possible, Uber’s focusing on three things:

- Electrification: Tackling the top barriers to electrification for drivers, EV costs, and how easy it is to access charging infrastructure.

- Innovation: Making it effortless for drivers, consumers, and merchants to embrace a low-emissions lifestyle. Encouraging riders to choose low- and zero-emission rides and helping merchants access reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging as an alternative to single use plastics.

- Partnerships: Collaborating with companies around the world to expedite electrification, piloting eco-packaging alternatives, and advocating for stronger action from governments and industry.

Uber's first focus area is the most urgent. The company is investing $800 million in resources to help drivers transition to electric vehicles. In London, for example, the company is offering drivers up to £5,000 in grants to go electric, while drivers of fully electric cars in the United States can earn an extra $210 for every 200 trips they complete in a month. Uber has also negotiated discounts on new electric vehicles and at charging stations for its drivers, such as up to 40% off fast-charging on EVgo’s US network.

The company’s efforts are paying off. According to Uber, the number of zero-emission vehicles on Uber’s platform doubled to 143,000 cars from Q1 2023 to Q1 2024. Uber drivers have completed over 65.8 million zero-emission rides globally in Q1 2024 alone. Nearly 9% of rides taken in the United States, Canada, and Europe at the beginning of 2024 were in electric vehicles. Uber acknowledges that it won’t reach its zero-emission goals without stronger action from policymakers and businesses. Therefore, Uber continues to call on policymakers and industry leaders to double down on the EV transition and take action to expedite it.

Uber is transforming the future of transportation by supporting drivers' rapid transition to electric vehicles, setting a new high watermark for the ride-hailing industry. By pushing for accelerated EV adoption, Uber is not only reshaping how the world rides but also urging businesses and cities to take decisive actions toward a net-zero carbon future.