Uber announces $7.5 million EV subsidy for its Kiwi drivers

Uber has announced it will invest $7.5 million into an electric vehicle (EV) subsidy programme for its Kiwi drivers.

From the start of July, service fees for drivers using a hybrid or EV to ferry passengers around will be eligible for a 50 per cent service fee discount up to $5000 per year over two years. That’s $10,000 back in their pocket.

The programme will cover all New Zealand cities where Uber is available.

It’s all apart of the rideshare company’s global plan to eliminate exhaust gas emissions and become a zero-emissions platform by 2040.

“New Zealand is at the forefront of greener rides for Uber globally, with the vast majority of rides already happening in a hybrid vehicle,” said Dom Taylor, Managing Director at Uber ANZ.

Taylor added that the price of EVs is one of the main barriers of entry for its drivers which he hopes to alleviate with the new subsidy.

Passengers will also have their say on what moves them too, as they will soon able to request a ride in a hybrid or EV through Uber Green from May. The new service will be priced the same as UberX, the company’s standard rideshare offering.

Considering most of the brand’s rides are already taken in hybrids in New Zealand, its likely they will automatically fall under the new eco-friendly option.