American-technology company- Uber that offers services like ride-sharing, package delivery, food delivery, freight transportation, and couriers, has reportedly announced that its users in Central London can now book an all-electric vehicle in place of a hybrid vehicle.
For the record, referred to as Uber Green, the new service will allow users in Zone 1 to book a completely-electric vehicle. The company claims that the efforts will contribute to improving the quality of air across London as well as encouraging riders to take action against climate change.
In addition to the above, passenger tariff will be equal to those made in diesel, petrol and hybrid Uber cars and drivers will get a considerably higher fare per trip.
In a statement, Jamie Heywood, Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, Uber, said that with gradual relaxations in travel restrictions due to the pandemic, the company is banking on the growing need to initiate a green recovery by ensuring that each vehicle on the Uber app in London is completely-electric.
Jamie also mentioned that Uber is partnering with drivers to motivate them to move towards all-electric variants and with the latest offering, the company is providing options to riders to select an electric car at no added cost thereby supporting sustainability.
As per a statement by the company, by the end of 2021, the new initiative will be live in nearly 60 major European cities and available across 1,400 locations in the U.S.
Seemingly, the latest Uber Green service marks an integral effort undertaken by the ride-sharing company to become a completely electric service company by the end of 2025 in London as well as across the UK by 2030.
Citing reports, in the year 2019, the company launched the Clean Air Plan where it collects an extra 15p/mile for each extra mile traveled in London. The amount is directed to drivers to support them with the cost incurred to switch to an electric vehicle.
Source Credit: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlypage/2021/03/29/uber-goes-green-with-electric-car-option-for-passengers-in-london/?sh=49d543431cea