- Following the recent push from Uber to switch to EVs, such as introducing the option in over 40 cities worldwide to specifically select a fully-electric vehicle to pick you up, the ride-hailing app has now launched an ‘EV Pop-Ups’ series.
- This allows travellers to catch a ride in some of the most premium EVs on the market, which could help expose a wider audience to electric cars.
- This program is initially starting with the option to ride a Rivian SUV in select U.S. cities, and over the pond in London, a Lotus Eletre.
Will other EV manufacturers take up Uber’s offer?
Within the app, Uber users will see the option for both EVs show up natively in the app, as shown below. The Rivian R1 EV will be available in the U.S. cities of Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas, whilst the Lotus Eletre EV will remain exclusive to London in the UK.
Exposure to these electric cars through a ride-hailing service could be, for some, the first time they’ve sat inside an electric car – particularly a high-end offering such as these. Realising the quieter, smoother drive, and other benefits of EVs as a result of this ride, could directly assist in EV adoption amongst these passengers, explaining Rivian and Lotus’ keenness to get involved.
These partnerships will be relatively short-lived affairs, with the Rivian SUV deal in particular running from just the 21st to the 27th of October. Uber have noted that this will be a ‘series of premium EV pop-ups’, so expect to see similar arrangements from other high-end EV models in the future. It’s not been disclosed how much EV manufacturers are paying Uber for the privilege to make their cars an option on the app.
This new EV Pop-Ups feature is one of just several sustainability aspects Uber has rolled out this month. Other features include an EV preference feature, an option to guarantee a fully-electric ride, and a tracker of emissions saved using these cars, as well as supported ebikes and escooters, directly through the app.
