Uber introduced its “Go Electric” program in New York City, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts, offering drivers a $4,000 cash grant to purchase electric vehicles after a federal tax credit expired. The initiative supports the company’s objective of achieving 100% electric trips by 2030.
The program represents a policy reversal for the company, which is moving from a non-interventionist stance to directly subsidizing driver EV purchases. The $4,000 grant is structured to address the financial gap for drivers created by the expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit. When combined with local incentives, such as the MOR-EV program in Massachusetts and Colorado’s Clean Fleet Program, the initiative is designed to potentially lower the total cost of EV ownership to below that of gasoline-powered cars.
Further financial support is available through performance-based payments. In Colorado, drivers can earn $200 for every 100 EV trips they complete, with a cumulative maximum of $4,000. This program is promoted alongside state tax credits and access to exclusive ride categories like Uber Electric and Comfort Electric. Another component is the “Zero Emissions incentive,” which provides drivers with bonuses ranging from $100 to $250, depending on the city, for completing rides in an EV.
To support these financial programs, Uber has also expanded its partnerships to improve driver access to fast-charging infrastructure. The company’s investments in these incentives and infrastructure collaborations are intended to encourage EV adoption among its network of drivers while confronting existing challenges related to high vehicle purchase costs and charging availability.
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