Emission-Free Uber in Australia by 2040
Uber Australia is making a bold stride towards becoming carbon-neutral by 2040, announcing a deal to import 10,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from BYD. Uber and Uber Eats drivers will be able to acquire these EVs on favourable terms, thanks to changing costs that now make owning an electric car cheaper than a traditional petrol-fuelled vehicle.
Rising Uber EV Usage and New Partnership
Dom Taylor, the General Manager of Uber Australia and New Zealand, reveals the company’s ambitious 2040 emission-free goal that was set in 2020, and how business decisions taken in 2021 have begun to pay off. The result? Over 1.2 million Uber rides in EVs were taken in Australia in Q3 2023 alone, with more than 2,400 electric cars now operating on Uber’s platform.
BYD and Uber’s Major Partnership
As part of the newfound partnership with BYD via EVDirect, Uber drivers can purchase the BYD Atto 3 for as little as $269 weekly. Through the EV Flex program, vehicles will be fully paid for within four years, making EV vehicles more accessible to drivers and contributing to the rise of used EVs in Australia’s car market.
Overcoming Barriers to EV Switch
While it’s no secret that the initial cost of an EV can be daunting, Uber and EVDirect are directly addressing this hurdle. Past surveys of Uber drivers revealed interest in switching to EVs; however, affordability remained the most significant issue. With the Atto 3 and the finance options available through this partnership, EVs are now a lower-cost option than hybrid cars, sparking an anticipated increase in adoption rates.
Navigating the Transition with EVDirect
With an optimistic outlook on Uber’s deal catalysing long-term EV sales increase, EVDirect CEO Luke Todd outlines an innovative rental program that encourages EV use and contributes to the second-hand car market. As Todd puts it, this partnership “will be a tidal-wave movement.”
The opportunity lies in aiding potential Uber drivers to make a seamless transition to EVs while capitalising on lower operation costs and current rising fuel prices.
Enhancing Sustainability Efforts
The new fleet of electric cars will first be available to Uber’s Business customers in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Adelaide as part of a new Uber Comfort program. The initiative helps monitor emission reduction and incorporates more sustainable solutions in corporate travel.
Driving Corporate Sustainability with Uber Business
Sarah Forsterling, the acting head of Uber for Business in Australia and New Zealand, understands Australian companies’ increasing pursuit of sustainable solutions. The Sustainability Dashboard offered by Uber for Business has been widely used since 2022, supporting companies in reporting on their corporate travels’ sustainability impacts.
Furthermore, innovative business partnerships that support Australia’s transition to EVs have received positive feedback from Behyad Jafari, CEO of Australia’s Electric Vehicle Council, which will ultimately lead to reducing carbon emissions on a larger scale.
Uber’s Road to a Sustainable Future
It may be argued that Uber’s 2040 goal isn’t aggressive enough given the current climate crisis, but unlike oil giants Exxon and Chevron, Uber’s initiatives should be lauded for the significant progress made towards environmental sustainability.
As Uber strives to catalyse the shift to electric vehicles, it’s likely that the 2040 zero-emission goal might be reached earlier than anticipated, making electric cars the preferred choice for everyday drivers in Australia.
