Uber is offering drivers $4,000 in grants to encourage them to switch from gasoline-powered cars to electric ones. The move is part of the company’s ambitious goal of achieving 100% of trips on such vehicles by 2030. It is a direct response to the recent elimination of key government benefits in the US. This is reported by The Verge.
The company is changing its approach to electrification. Earlier, in 2020, Uber said that it would not directly pay drivers to switch to electric vehicles. Now, the company has reversed this decision, hoping that direct payments will accelerate EV adoption.
The reason for the policy change was the recent termination of the federal tax credit in the US, which was $7,500 for new electric vehicles. This is expected to hit EV sales hard and make it harder for Uber drivers to switch to a new car while keeping their costs down.
Uber’s new offer aims to cushion the blow. The $4,000 grant is the same amount as the previous rebate for used electric vehicles.