Uber to switch to EVs in London

Uber plans to have all its London drivers in electric vehicles by 2025.

And to help them do that the ride-hailing company aims to introduce a surcharge early in 2019 to all fares booked via its app in London.

Uber expects the fee to raise more than £200m over the next few years to assist drivers in switching vehicles to electric.

It says drivers working 40-hours weekly could get about £1500 a year from passengers via the top-up fee.

The “clean air” fee is expected to be 15p per mile – about 45p extra for an average ride in the city.

Uber expects to provide the money for EVs to the most active half of its 40,000 London drivers by 2021 under its “Clean Air Plan”.

It’s described as a long-term investment in the future of London, aimed at going all electric there in 2025, Uber’s chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi says.

“Over time, it’s our goal to help people replace their car with their phone by offering a range of mobility options – whether cars, bikes, scooters or public transport – all in the Uber app,” he says, BBC News reports.

To support the EV fleet, Uber is also working on getting more charging stations throughout London.

Uber’s plan comes soon after the United Kingdom government cut subsidies for buying greener cars. From November 9, grants for plug-in hybrids will stop and those for all-electric cars will reduce from £4500 to £3500.