World-known ride-hailing and freight transportation service company Uber Technologies has announced its venture into electric vehicles in preparation against the growing concerns for Co2 emissions around the world. Uber electric vehicles started offering services in selected areas of India’s Delhi – NCR region. The company also announced its intentions to further expand the electric vehicle services to more areas in the coming months.
This move is in compliance with the Indian government’s directive, which instructs ride-hailing companies to electrify a significant number of their caravans over the next few years. This directive came in 2019, when the Indian government made it mandatory for Uber and its competitor, Ola, to convert 5% of their caravans to electric by 2022 and make it 40% by April 2026.
Uber has been globally accepted, especially in Africa, and the business prosperity has been remarkable. Before the end of 2022 first quarter, Uber recorded over one billion trips in Africa. Uber made its debut arrival in Africa, with South Africa as its first market in 2013. Currently, Uber is present in Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ivory Coast.
The electric vehicles are currently only available for pre-scheduled trips. Customers can access this service through the Reserve feature on the app, allowing them to choose a pick-up time for the ride up to 30 days in advance. Customers are also allowed to cancel their scheduled trips 60 minutes before their trip for no charge, according to the description on the app.
Read also: Ford’s Promise of Electric Vehicles
Essence Of Uber Electric Vehicles
Uber electric vehicles are called Uber Green. There is a $1 surcharge for passengers; half goes to drivers, and half goes to Uber’s green initiatives. Drivers on Uber Green help cities move more people with rides in electric cars, including hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and 100% battery electric vehicles.
Besides the environmental benefits, Uber points out that drivers with an EV can earn more per hour as a result of higher fares, gas savings and an extra $1-per-trip incentive for each trip they complete (up to $4K annually).
Any eco-friendly, low-emission vehicle that runs on hybrid or 100% electric technology is eligible for Uber Green. Cars currently used for Uber Green are Toyota Prius, Honda Accord Hybrid, all Tesla models, Toyota Camry and Rav4 Hybrid, and Hyundai IONIQ electric.
According to research, Uber Green is not more expensive. On average, it costs the same price as UberX, which is a normal fuel car. However, UberX can connect you with any car, so if your goal is choosing low-emission rides, then that is not a suitable option.
In a released statement, an Uber spokesperson said, “As the leading mobility app in India, we are committed to supporting the Indian government’s emission goals. Expect to see more electric vehicles, be they two, three or four-wheeled, across Indian cities in the coming months.”
The company did not share how many EV cabs were operational on its platform in India, but declared that it is working with multiple car manufacturers, OEMs and charging infra providers to build the EV business in a sustainable manner gradually. The average cost of charging an EV at a commercial charger, from almost empty to almost full, is between $10 and $30.
Uber is also on a journey to a zero-car emissions future in London by 2025. With new and increasing regulations and driving costs for petrol and diesel vehicles, the company is committed to helping drivers make the switch to electric vehicles.
Electric Vehicles In India
Currently, there are 12 electric cars on sale in India. Of these, the Tata Tiago EV is the cheapest EV, while the Mercedes-Benz EQS is India’s most expensive electric car.
Electric cars are a step ahead of petrol cars when it comes to fuel efficiency. Given that electricity costs less than petrol, the running cost of an EV is low. The fuel economy of a petrol car depends on the engine capacity and several other factors.
The running cost of an electric vehicle is much lower than an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. Electric vehicles use electricity to charge their batteries instead of using fossil fuels like petrol or diesel.
Currently, residents in India can rent a 2021 or 2022 Tesla from Hertz to drive; Teslas qualify for the Zero Emissions incentive.
Most manufacturers have a five to eight-year warranty on their batteries. However, the current prediction is that an electric car battery will last from 10 to 20 years before they need to be replaced.