Uber: Its Ecological Transition in 4 Key Dates

Uber announced a series of measures and deadlines for the ecological transition of its VTC fleet.

The mobility orientation law adopted by the French Parliament in November 2019 states that at least 10% of taxi and VTC fleets must be “low emission” by 2024.

In this context, Uber boasts of exceeding these ambitions as it aims for 50% electric vehicles in France by 2025, and even 100% worldwide by 2040. The company has just announced two initial measures in this regard.

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Goal: Zero Diesel Vehicles

Firstly, Uber “partner” drivers can no longer register diesel or diesel-hybrid vehicles since January 1^st 2022. They hope to reach zero diesel vehicles by 2024.

To justify this ambition, Uber relies on a decision by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has reduced the recommended exposure threshold to nitrogen oxides (NO_X) by a factor of four. Road traffic is responsible for over half of the emissions of these air pollutants, according to Uber, and these pollutants mainly come from diesel vehicles.

75 Million Euros for Electric Vehicles

Secondly, the VTC giant announces the allocation of 75 million euros to support drivers in acquiring electric vehicles.

This fund is financed by customers through a fare increase of 0.03 euros/km since January 1^st 2021. Uber does not specify how it will distribute this money. In any case, with 30,000 drivers, that amounts to only 2,500 euros per driver.

An Ecological Transition in 4 Dates

Here is a summary:

• January 1^st 2022: no more diesel cars can join the Uber fleet
• 2024: zero diesel vehicles in the fleet (vehicles registered before January 1^st 2022 will then be excluded)
• 2025: 50% electric vehicles in France
• 2040: 100% electric vehicles worldwide

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