Following analysis of access to EV charging points where Uber drivers live, the ride-hailing technology company has pledged £5m for public EV charging infrastructure in less affluent London boroughs.
Uber said its data highlights that the majority of charging infrastructure is in prosperous areas such as Kensington and Westminster, whereas its drivers typically live in boroughs such as Newham and Tower Hamlets.
According to Uber, these areas are less likely to have houses with driveways that would enable a home charging system where drivers can recharge a plug-in EV overnight.
Announcing the £5m funding at the London Infrastructure Summit on Tuesday (20 October 2020), Uber said it will now work with Newham, Brent and Tower Hamlet boroughs to develop a funding plan that will be delivered in 2023.
Jamie Heywood, Uber’s regional general manager for northern and eastern Europe, said: “Drivers consistently tell us that having reliable, accessible charging near where they live is a key factor when deciding if they should switch to electric.
“If we address this challenge for professional drivers now, it will help create a mass market for electric vehicles in the years to come. As we all know this is critical if the UK is to achieve our goal to be net zero.”
As part of the company’s wider goal of making all 45,000 cars in its London fleet electric by 2025, Uber has partnered with BP. The tie-up is designed to enable Uber drivers to access more affordable and reliable charging infrastructure, and benefit from discounts when using BP Chargemaster’s public charging network, as well as accessing Uber dedicated charging points.
Uber has also collaborated with Nissan to provide its drivers with economical EVs. Currently, Uber has 1,000 plug-in EVs operating in the UK capital.
