INVESTING IN A GREENER FUTURE WITH $26 MILLION IN EV DRIVER INCENTIVES

07/06/22; Uber Media Release

At Uber, we believe the future of transport is shared and electric.

Over the last decade we’ve shown our commitment to that future by introducing shared rides options like Uber Pool, integrating micromobility and public transport into the platform, and investing heavily in electric vehicle uptake.

Today, we have taken another step forward in our global commitment to becoming a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2040, by announcing a $26 million investment into Australia’s electric vehicle market.

As part of this initiative, we are cutting service fees by 50% for driver-partners using battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the platform until mid-2025 (for the first 2,500 drivers, up to a value of AUD $3,500 per year).

This announcement follows the success of a 12 month trial to reduce service fees for BEV drivers across the platform and supports commitments by governments across the country to accelerate electric vehicle adoption. 

In April last year we announced a service fee reduction of 50% for BEV drivers taking trips on the platform from July 1 2021 to June 30 2022, which has driven huge increases in green trips on the platform:

Over 378,000 EV trips completed

EV driver-partners on the platform have increased 4 times nationally

Monthly EV trips have increased nearly 5 times nationally

Approximately 502 tonnes of CO2 has been saved (which is the equivalent of planting 16,000 trees)

EV driver-partners saved an average of $5.5K AUD from a combination of service fees and fuel savings over the last 12 months*

Uber ANZ General Manager, Dom Taylor said: “Uber is committed to accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles in Australia and the results from our trial over the last year have been phenomenal. The number of driver-partners using EVs on the platform has almost quadrupled, with five times as many EV trips being taken now than before we began the initiative, equating to over 500 tonnes of C02 emissions saved.

“We know this approach is producing results and we also know that driver-partners want the program extended.  We want to do our bit – we’ve listened to them and have extended this initiative for another three years.”

Australia lags behind the rest of the world in the take up of electric vehicles with EVs still only representing 0.7% of the million cars sold in Australia annually.

“One electric vehicle on the Uber platform can help the equivalent of 100 riders a month get from A to B, with rideshare drivers realising three to four times greater emissions savings compared to average car owners.

“We want to work with Governments, vehicle manufacturers and key stakeholders in the industry to accelerate the rate of EV adoption across Australia so that together we can create a more sustainable transport future.” 

Matthew Kean, NSW Treasurer and Minister for Energy said: “Governments and the private sector need to work together to achieve net zero by 2050 and a key part of this is ensuring that we accelerate the use of more sustainable transport options. It’s great to see big businesses like Uber invest heavily in the industry and this initiative will help to incentivise the uptake of electric vehicles with rideshare drivers in a cost-effective way. NSW has a nation-leading EV strategy and our commitment to tax reform and government rebates, together with support from private companies, will lay the foundation for an EV revolution across the State.”

Behyad Jafari, CEO of the Electric Vehicle Council said: “Australians understand that electric vehicles help clean the air, cut carbon emissions, and reduce our dependence on imported oil, meaning they are keen to see more on our roads. What we know is the best way to support people going electric is to take a ride in or drive one. Once you experience the performance of an electric car, there’s no going back. That’s what makes Uber’s initiative so great – not only will it help drivers on its platform go electric, but it will provide riders with an opportunity to experience new sustainable innovation.”

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*Average fuel and service fee savings have been calculated using: 1) the average service fee savings of all battery electric vehicle driver partners who took trips between 1 July 2021 and 30 June 2022; and 2) the amount that may have been spent on fuel had those driver partners driven an equivalent distance using a typical non EV rideshare vehicle such as a Toyota Camry, over the same period. Estimated fuel savings were calculated based on Camry fuel efficiency (source, Toyota Camry Ascent 2.5L 4cyl Petrol 91RON, 6 Spd Auto, 4 door 5 seat Sedan, 2WD) by monthly average petrol price (source) for the period. Savings stated here are not a guarantee of future savings, which may be higher or lower than the average service fee savings and fuel savings calculated here.