Competitive Benefits of Environmental Consciousness

• In order to stay competitive, ride sharing companies have increased their focus on carbon emissions, recognizing that shared rides and carbon efficient vehicles allow ride sharing to promote environmental benefits of using ride sharing.

• This is especially important given research is beginning to show that ride hailing actually increases emissions, due to the many miles driven between rides with no passengers.
• One source estimates that ride shares currently create 69% more carbon emissions than the trips they displace would.
• Rideshare customers are also increasingly demanding electric ride options. 
• One poll showed that over half of Uber customers would pay an extra $0.15 – $0.20 per kilometer for zero-emissions rides, approximately 13% more per trip.  

New Regulations around Ridesharing

• In order to address carbon emissions, some cities are exploring legislation that encourage electric rideshares.  
• For example, the city of Los Angeles recently explored the idea of mandating all new rideshare vehicles are electric, and Shenzhen, China recently banned the use of gas vehicles for rideshares, only allowing electric vehicles for ride sharing.

Improved Electric Grid

• As personal drivers and ride sharing vehicles go increasingly electric, some areas are boosting their charging capacity.
• This is projected to improve the accessibility and popularity of using an EV vehicle for ridesharing, as the increased convenience will increase the benefits to drivers on platforms like Uber and Lyft of choosing an electric option.