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It looks like this could be the end of the road for ICE-powered Uber rides, as company CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wants drivers to embrace EVs. The company’s shift to electricity has been on the cards for a while, but now Khosrowshahi has seemingly set a 2030 deadline for those on the platform to get on board, or risk being left out in the cold.
Speak with CBS NewsKhosrowshahi said the company aims to go all-electric in the US, Canada and Europe by the end of the decade. “If we do our job, we will be all-electric,” the CEO said when asked if ICE powered vehicles would still be allowed on the platform.
Later this week, the company will expand an option that will allow riders to choose a battery-powered car for their ride. The program, known as Uber’s Comfort Electric option, will be available in 25 different cities and states across North America.
Related: Uber Users Can Now Request a Ride in a Tesla or Polestar EV
But with only 25,000 electric vehicles on the platform estimated to be one million drivers, the company still has a lot to do to make the switch. Part of Khosrowshahi’s plan includes doubling the number of EVs available by 2023, while allocating $800 million to offset the higher initial cost of purchasing an EV over an ICE vehicle.
Uber pays EV drivers an extra dollar for every ride they take, while also offering discounts on recharging. In addition, Uber has partnered with Hertz to allow drivers to rent Teslas, either on a weekly or monthly basis.
At $344 a week from Hertz, the Tesla Model 3 renters aren’t cheap, but that figure also includes insurance, basic maintenance, and unlimited mileage. A driver who made the switch found that she had more than doubled her tips since switching from an ICE-powered Toyota Camry.
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