By 2030, there would be more electric cars on the road as Uber and Lyft plan to operate zero-emission vehicles.
The use of transport technology has negatively impacted the environment resulting in unfavourable climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. Now, technology seeks to solve its own problem through the use of electric cars, which guarantees a future clean environment.
“We are also electrifying our city vehicle fleet”, New York Mayor, Eric Adams announced in partnership with Uber and Lyft to have 100 percent electric vehicles (EV).
The partnership is expected to hasten the commercial use of EVs in New York City. To achieve this, Uber has also partnered with Hertz, an American Car Rental Company, to offer electric vehicle rental opportunities to drivers, while Lyft offers promotional benefits to encourage drivers to use EVs.
Josh Gold, the senior director of policy at Uber, “Uber applauds the mayor’s ambition for reducing emission, an important goal we share.”
The challenge to commercializing EV technology is the inability of drivers to afford the upfront costs and the accessibility of charging stations. However, Paul Augustine, Lyft’s director of sustainability, assures that the challenge of driving an EV will be addressed to build a cleaner environment. Drivers will not need to pay an additional cost to use electric vehicles, and drivers will be encouraged with incentives.
EVs have a more expensive combustion engine than fossil fuel vehicles. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in 2022, New York City would need over 1,000 stations at a fast charging rate of 150W to power 20,000 electric vehicles, even if 15 percent of the electric vehicles are charged overnight.
If New York City can reduce 100,000 vehicles as planned, the greenhouse gas emission would be reduced and further reduced as other cities and countries support EVs.
In a climate assessment and performance report done last year, 2022, Uber ridership increased by over 36% while carbon intensity fell to 6% from 2017 to 2019 with the use of EVs. Since Uber technology plans to use EVs in the US, Canada and Europe by 2030, EVs will mostly likely be used worldwide by 2040, as planned by the company.
Do you think these companies will be able to achieve this?
Although Uber plans to expand the use of non-fossil vehicles, with an additional incentive of $1.5 per trip, since drivers are not Uber employees, will it be easy to influence them with such an incentive? Will the use of EVs be encouraged by enacting laws that support zero-emission vehicles?
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Photo by Uber
