New York City is taking steps to become a more sustainable and environmentally friendly place to live and work, and one of the ways it is doing that is by requiring ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to have a zero-emissions fleet by 2030. This announcement was made by NYC Mayor Eric Adams during his State of the City speech on Thursday. The plan is expected to impact the approximately 100,000 for-hire vehicles operating within the city.
Mayor Adams stated that the city is committed to making the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) as smooth as possible for drivers. Both Uber and Lyft have agreed to support the transition to EVs and will be expected to help relieve the financial burden on drivers during the transition. The New York City government’s release regarding the State of the City address includes language that suggests the businesses will be responsible for supporting their employees “with no new costs for individual drivers.”
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Additionally, Mayor Adams urged New York City residents to consider driving an EV, and the city plans to support this by establishing more EV charging infrastructure throughout all five boroughs. However, convincing drivers to buy or lease a new electric car may not be easy. One solution to this problem is the partnership between Uber and Hertz, which allows Uber drivers to rent EVs at a discounted weekly rate. Similar plans could be implemented in the United States with proper funding.
In a statement to Teslarati, Uber’s Senior Director, Public Policy & Communications, Josh Gold, said: “We applaud the Mayor’s ambition for reducing emissions, an important goal we share. Uber has been making real progress to become the first zero-emissions mobility platform in North America, and there’s much more to do. We look forward to working with the TLC to achieve zero-emissions in New York City in a way that benefits drivers, riders, and the city.”
See also: Hertz and Uber Expand Partnership to Offer 25,000 Electric Vehicles for European Rideshare Drivers
Revel, the ridesharing service that launched a fleet of Tesla Model Ys in 2021, has provided drivers with vehicles and a platform to make money and have access to benefits. Revel CEO Frank Reig commends Mayor Adams’ move to push Uber and Lyft to fully sustainable fleets: “As New York City’s first all-electric rideshare service, we know Mayor Adams’ ambitious plan to electrify the for-hire-vehicle industry is both doable and essential. This is what real leadership looks like. Revel will be increasing the amount of fast charging stalls six-fold over the next two years in neighborhoods where drivers live and work, making owning and operating an EV a reality for the industry.”
