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Uber partners with three London boroughs to improve access to EV charging

Posted: 10 March 2022 | | 1 comment

As part of its efforts to increase the adoption of electric vehicles amongst its drivers, Uber is investing into the installation of EV chargers in Newham, Brent and Redbridge.

New Uber partnership to bring up to 25,000 EVs to European capitals

Credit: Uber

Uber has announced that it will be providing a £5 million investment to three boroughs across north and east London for the installation of 700 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers on the streets of Newham, Brent and Redbridge. Boosting London’s overall charging network by over seven per cent, these on-street charging points will improve access for those without driveways or home chargers.

Jamie Heywood, Uber‘s General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, said: “Drivers often tell me that being able to access reliable charging near their homes is critical to their decision to switch to an electric vehicle. By targeting investment where it is most needed, we are confident that thousands more drivers will make the switch to electric, allowing them to benefit from lower running costs and higher earnings on Uber. Ensuring that everyone can access EV charging will spark a mass transition to electric vehicles and help to drive London towards a greener future.”

Professional ride-hailing drivers are the early mass adopters of EVs, with more than 90 per cent of new vehicles joining the Uber app being fully electric, compared to 11.6 per cent of new vehicles in the mass market in 2021.

With many drivers living in boroughs such as Brent, Newham and Redbridge, there is significant demand for more charging points in these parts of London. The capital’s concentration of EV chargers is currently highest in central and west London, with over a quarter of chargers in Westminster, Kensington, Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham.

By incentivising a wider shift to EVs, Uber and its partners across the three boroughs aim to help tackle air pollution for all local residents, and share learnings with other local authorities on how private companies and the public sector can collaborate to address this challenge.

In late 2022, Uber plans to expand its EV-only option ‘Uber Green’ from Zone One to the whole of London – meaning that riders will be able to request an electric vehicle from anywhere in the city for the same price as a normal UberX. Drivers will also earn 13 per cent more when taking trips on Uber Green.

Electrification and the road to sustainability 

Read this article to find out more from Uber about its commitment to becoming a zero-emission mobility platform by 2030 and how it is working to support its London drivers in making the switch to electric vehicles.

Electrification and the road to sustainability

One response to “Uber partners with three London boroughs to improve access to EV charging”

  1. Alkè says:

    Uber’s £5 million investment to support the installation of 700 new EV’S charging points is a big step towards the transition to green transport. By increasing the network of charging points, surely more drivers will use electric vehicles to transport people, driving London towards a greener, smog-free future.
    At the end of 2022, Uber plans to expand its selection of EV-only ‘Uber Green’ to the whole of London, allowing all passengers to request a ride in an electric vehicle anywhere in the city, for the same price as a traditional UberX. In a few months, we will find out if the company has succeeded.

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