Thinking about switching to an electric vehicle? Hear Kola’s story! 

Kola gives us his top tips about switching to electric.

We spoke with Kola Olalekan, London representative for our trade union partner GMB and proud electric vehicle (EV) driver, to answer your most common EV questions and bust some of the most commonly held myths about driving an EV with Uber. 

How long have you been driving with Uber Kola? 

I have been driving with Uber in London for four years, and in that time, I’ve completed nearly 17,000 trips! I choose to drive with Uber because of the flexibility it offers, and because of the financial opportunities for me. 

You also drive an EV on the platform. What EV do you drive and what do you think about the car?

I drive the Kia E-Niro 3 with a 64kWH battery, and I love it. It’s a fantastic car, probably the very best vehicle for the industry. For me, it has the smoothest drive. It’s also super quiet yet it still zooms past other cars. 

That’s great! Why did you decide to transition from a diesel/petrol vehicle to an EV? 

Personally, I chose to transition to EV as I believed it would cut down my running costs, and at the same time I could earn more through Uber Green. I also saw that I’d save through the congestion exemption, as a driver that mainly drives in London city centre. My Uber Clean Air Fund had accumulated too and I wanted to use it. Aside from all the financial benefits, I also wanted to do my bit towards a cleaner world through using a new electric vehicle instead.

Kola’s Kia E-Niro 3

You mentioned you wanted to use your Clean Air Fund, how did you get your EV? 

I went with a Rent to Buy scheme with Otto Car, with a weekly payment for 4 years duration. I used my Clean Air Fund to reduce my weekly payment. After two more years, I will own the car.

One of the biggest concerns we have from drivers is around charging. How do you charge yours? 

I’m lucky enough to be able to charge my car at home, which gives me peace of mind that I’ll always be able to find a charging spot. This saves me a lot of time, but I also find it a lot cheaper too, compared to fuel cars. This also meant that I didn’t have to adapt my driving routine to fit around charging. I like to drive during the day, so at night I charge my car at home, which is also when the charging cost is at its lowest. 

Charging just at night, and driving all day may give some drivers ‘range anxiety’ (not having enough battery to reach your destination). Do you ever get range anxiety? 

Range has never been an issue for me! I found that a full charge mostly covers two days of driving in central London. But now that I am able to charge at home, I usually top it up every night and I start each day with a full charge which lasts me all day. I’d say to any driver considering an EV that 300 miles is a decent range. 

What are some of the things you would like to see improve about EV? 

Knowing that I’m lucky to have a home charger, I’d still love to see more street charging for those without off-street parking at home, to encourage more drivers to transition to EV. I’d love to see a lower cost for rapid charging points in the city too, which I think would encourage more drivers to switch to an EV. Longer range would also be good too, so you can avoid stopping to charge when embarking on a longer trip, those over 300 miles! 

What are some of the common issues you face as an EV driver? 

Before I installed a charger at home, it was frustrating to move from one spot to another looking for a free charging spot. Luckily, I was able to find a number of slow charging spots close to my home which I used overnight, but this can be harder in the city centre.

You mentioned you switched to EV to save some money, what are your top money saving tips for drivers with an EV? 

That’s great, Kola! How much do you think you’ve saved? 

Finally, do you think riders like EV? 

Yes of course, even today a rider asked if my car was an EV and I said that it was, she then said ‘oh, very quiet and smooth’ – that’s the most common phrase used by most riders! I’d love to see more riders requesting Uber Green in the future! 

If, like Kola, you’re interested in switching to an EV, join one of our Go Electric Webinars to learn more (sign up via the Weekly Partner Update) or take a look at our PartnerPoint Vehicles Marketplace to see what EV deals interest you!