Uber to put 500 EVs on Australian roads

Rideshare giant Uber is set to offer drivers the opportunity to drive a Polestar 2 electric vehicle on a flexi-own deal, as part of a plan for Uber to put 500 EVs on Australian roads.

Uber has partnered with Splend, Australia’s largest provider of vehicle subscriptions to the rideshare industry. Splend now owns Australia’s largest fleet of Polestar 2 EVs, aided by $1.8 million in funding through the NSW Drive Electric fleets incentive.

Splend is piloting the program in Sydney before rolling out the EV initiative with Uber nationally. Eligible drivers can sign up from $550 per week, which is $100 per week lower than the retail price thanks to the NSW government funding. Splend is also providing drivers a special pricing option for at-home EV charging.

Drivers will also receive a 50 per cent reduction in the Uber service fees paid on each trip, up to $6,000 per financial year, until June 2025.

Next year, Uber plans to launch its ‘Comfort Electric’ service which will allow rideshare users to choose an electric vehicle – Polestar or Tesla – to take them to their destination. The program is part of Uber’s ambitions to become carbon neutral by 2040.

“We know there are many barriers for Australians when it comes to driving an electric vehicle, not the least being limited supply and the cost of the car itself,” says Uber ANZ General Manager, Dom Taylor.

“We believe that the future of transport is shared and electric, and we’re thrilled to soon offer Aussies a greener ride around town with Comfort Electric.”

Polestar, jointly owned by Volvo and Chinese parent Geely, entered the Australian market early this year as an affordable rival to Tesla in the push to get more EVs on Australian roads.

Demand for EVs is rising in Australia, with more than EVs sold in September, outnumbering sales of all hybrid vehicles, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

More news on electric vehicles at GadgetGuy.

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