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Together on the road to zero emissions

Uber changed the way the world moves. And we’re committed to changing the way movement is powered. That’s why we’ve invested $26 million into Australia’s electric vehicle market as part of our commitment to becoming a zero-emission mobility platform in Australia by 2040, with 100% of rides taking place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transport or with micromobility (bikes and scooters); a goal that can only be achieved by working together.

Why go electric?

There are lots of reasons to make the switch to an electric vehicle, also known as an EV.

Fuel savings

EVs enjoy reduced costs with the price of electricity compared to petrol or diesel as fuel

Better for your city

Driving EVs helps reduce emissions, lower air pollution levels making your city a healthier place for everyone

EV technology

EV technology makes for a great ride. Drivers who’ve made the switch say their new EVs are comfortable and easy to maintain, and that their riders also love the quieter, smoother trips.

Choosing an EV

3 important numbers when looking for an EV:

1. Price

Of course it’s important to compare the EV options available to you for your budget. More and more EVs are coming onto the market, increasing the options available and giving you more choice in selecting the right next car for you.

2. Range

A typical driver on the app could expect to cover 160-210 kilometres in a day.* The 'range' or distance an EV can cover before needing to recharge is given in kilometres, and largely determined by the size of its battery. So a fully charged 40kWh battery can average around 225 kilometres per charge, whereas a 62kWh battery can average around 354 kilometres per charge.

3. Charging speed

How long it takes to charge an EV will be influenced by two main factors: the size of your battery and the charger's speed. The rate an EV can take in electricity from a charger is measured in kilowatts (kW).

A typical 50kW charger can recharge a 64kWh battery from 10% to 80% in 63 minutes, or a larger 77kWh battery the same amount in 71 minutes.**

A third factor that can affect how quickly your EV charges up is the technology in the car itself — its charging hardware and software. Depending on the model, this can mean larger batteries charge even more quickly than smaller ones.

For example, more powerful 175kW public chargers could recharge a 64kWh battery from 10% to 80% in 44 minutes but only take 33 minutes for a larger 77kWh battery in the right model. These more powerful public chargers, if available, are typically more common outside of city centres.

Electrifying rideshare

Since July 2021, we’ve halved the service fee for new and existing battery electric vehicle drivers to help them offer more sustainable transport.

In the first 12 months, the results have been phenomenal. The number of drivers using EVs on the platform has almost quadrupled, with 5 times as many EV trips being taken now than before we launched the initiative. That equates to over 500 tonnes of CO2 emissions saved in the 12-month period alone.

500 tonnes of CO2 is almost the equivalent of;

  • 16,000 trees planted
  • 98 homes' electricity for a year
  • 61 million smartphones charged

Helping you go electric

Drivers like you are leading the way towards a greener future, and Uber is committed to supporting you. We know there’s a long way to go here, but together we can accelerate EV adoption in Australia. Here are some of the steps to supercharge your journey:

Encouraging the use of battery electric vehicles

Be one of the first 750 eligible driver-partners in Australia to upload a Polestar 2 or Tesla Model Y to the Uber platform and take at least one Uber trip using that vehicle, to enjoy a 50% reduction on Uber’s Service Fee until 30 June 2025, helping you earn more on trips. The eligible vehicles must be rented-to-own via our Vehicles Solutions partner Splend to apply for this offer, and can be found on our Vehicle Marketplace.

The Service Fee reduction is capped at:

- $6,000 per financial year (1 July – 30 June) for driver-partners who rent-to-own a Polestar 2 from Splend in Sydney only (maximum 500 spots available); and

- $3,500 per financial year (1 July – 30 June) for driver-partners who rent-to-own a Tesla Model Y from Splend (maximum 250 spots available).

Hurry as there are limited slots available in each program!

Supporting the Federal Government’s commitment to accelerating EV adoption

The 2022 federal election demonstrated that Australians want action on climate and sustainability. We want to work with the government, vehicle manufacturers and key stakeholders in the industry to accelerate the rate of EV adoption across Australia, so that together we can create a more sustainable future.

The Australian government has a guide on EV benefits and incentives. Find out more here.

Find out more about the actions we’re taking for a greener future from Uber Australia General Manager, Dom Taylor.

Vehicle Discounts and Offers

If you’re thinking about making the switch, check out some of our partner's EV offerings here:

Rent-to-own a brand-new Polestar 2 from Splend from $419 per week*

NSW drivers can now rent-to-own the Polestar 2 EV from Splend. Enjoy the EV experience and earn more with Uber’s reduced Service Fee for driver-partners who drive a full battery EV.

Rent an EV from Europcar

Uber drivers can now rent an electric vehicle from Europcar at competitive rates. Europcar features the Tesla Y as well as other EV’s Why electric? Save on fuel, reduce emissions and earn more with Uber’s reduced service fee for driver-partners who drive a full battery EV. EV’s qualify for the newly launched Uber Green, Tesla’s also qualify for UberX.

Get up to 20% off selected EV home chargers with EVSE

Uber Pro members in Australia can now enjoy up to 20% off EV home chargers offered by EVSE (see your unique referral code in the Uber Driver App). With a home charger, EV drivers no longer have to worry about range anxiety and can enjoy the comfort of at-home charging.

Frequently asked questions

  • Any battery electric vehicle which also meets our other vehicle requirements, such as our 5 star ANCAP rating, will be eligible for a reduced service fee.

  • We need to make sure we have enough electric vehicles and plug in hybrids on the platform to ensure riders who are willing to pay more for a green ride, can get one, in their city. As soon as we can do that in a city, we’ll look to launch Uber Green.

  • We take different approaches in different markets based on local conditions. For example, in London, we charged a ‘clean air fee’ of 15p per mile on every trip booked through the Uber app in London to help drivers transition to electric vehicles. We’ve designed this approach to help get closer to our goal of being a zero emissions platform by 2040.

Uber will be a zero-emission mobility platform by 2040