Uber said Wednesday it is launching a $4,000 incentive for drivers to switch to electric vehicles as the ride-hailing giant strives for a fully-electric fleet.
Eligible drivers can use the rebate payments to buy new or used EVs in states including New York, California, Colorado and Massachusetts.
The policy comes after the Trump administration phased out Biden-era tax credits worth $7,500 for new EV purchases last month.
Combined with state EV discounts, like Massachusetts’ MOR-EV and Colorado’s Clean Fleet Program, Uber’s new incentive could substantially lower the steep cost of buying a new electric vehicle for drivers.
Uber – which currently boasts 200,000 EV drivers globally – also announced that it is rebranding its “Uber Green” ride-hailing service to “Uber Electric.”
“Uber Electric is more than a new name, it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally over the past five years,” Pradeep Parameswaran, global head of mobility at Uber, told The Post in a statement.
“We’ll keep supporting drivers by removing barriers to EV adoption and working with cities to improve access to charging.”
To celebrate the rebrand, Uber is offering a 20% discount on riders’ next electric trip over the next week.
Despite slowing EV sales in the US, Uber is pushing forward with its pledge to offer 100% electric-vehicle rides by 2030 in the US, Canada and Europe. It has also vowed to offer only EV rides globally by 2040.
In 2020, when it first announced the goal, the company said it would not pay drivers to turn in their gas guzzlers.
Uber drivers are independent contractors who typically use their personal vehicles for work and juggle rides for other apps, like Lyft.
While electric vehicles often have lower maintenance fees and no fuel costs, they usually come at a higher upfront price than gas-powered or hybrid alternatives, which can be hard for drivers to afford.
Along with launching the rebate, Uber is expanding its battery-aware matching feature to more brands, including Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Ford and Volkswagen.
The tool shows potential trips to drivers based on their car’s battery level, so they can accept rides that will land them near a charger at the end or turn down trips that are too far for their battery level.
The feature is launching in 25 countries across the US, Canada and Europe, according to Uber.
