Uber, BP strike charging deal to drive EV uptake in Australia

Ride-hailing giant Uber has struck a deal with BP to offer discounted electric vehicle charging to its Australian drivers as it launches a service dedicated to lower-emissions rides and seeks to persuade reluctant drivers to make the switch to electric cars.

Uber, which has set a target to phase out carbon-polluting vehicles from its platform by 2040, is exploring ways to increase uptake of electric cars in Australia, where sales of emissions-free vehicles are still lagging far behind other developed nations.

The United States-based app company on Friday sent the “Uber Green” feature live across Australia for the first time, four years after it was launched in Europe, enabling customers to request a hybrid or fully electric car for the same price as an UberX journey.

“Australia’s path to net-zero is going to take a concerted effort from all of us, and Uber is stepping up to play our part,” Uber Australia and New Zealand general manager Dom Taylor said.

In a new deal between Uber and British energy major BP, Uber drivers and couriers using electric vehicles will receive a discount on charging at BP Pulse service stations. The program, which the companies aim to launch by the end of the year, would save Uber drivers between 5¢ and 8¢ a kilowatt-hour on the cost of charging.

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Light vehicles account for more than 10 per cent of Australia’s output of greenhouse gas emissions, making the sector a major contributor to global warming.

While ride-hailing cars are newer and have better fuel efficiency than the wider vehicle fleet, the industry has faced scrutiny in some cities in the United States, where studies suggest it contributes to urban congestion and emissions because of the amount of time drivers spend driving around between jobs.

Ride-sharing platforms, however, believe they can have a significant impact on decarbonisation if they can influence more electric vehicle uptake.