- “Uber Green” is now “Uber Electric.” The eco-friendly ride option has been rebranded, with Uber emphasizing EV-only trips under the new label. Reuters
- New “Go Electric” grants: up to $4,000 for eligible drivers who switch to a new or used EV—limited to California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New York City at launch. The Verge
- Rider promo: 20% off one EV ride (up to $8) for a week with code GOELECTRIC20. The Verge
- Battery‑aware matching expands to 25 countries, helping drivers avoid trips they can’t complete on current charge and find routes ending near chargers. Reuters
- Scale today: Uber says 200,000+ EVs run on its platform; one in four riders had their first EV ride via Uber. Reuters
- Policy backdrop: The federal EV tax credit has expired, prompting Uber to step in with its own cash to keep adoption moving. Reuters
- Targets unchanged: Uber still aims for 100% EV trips by 2030 in the US, Canada and Europe, and global zero‑emissions by 2040. The Verge
- Hybrids phased out: Earlier this year, Uber made “Green” EV‑only in the US; today’s rebrand generalizes that shift. Reuters
What changed today
Uber rebranded Uber Green to Uber Electric and rolled out $4,000 “Go Electric” grants to help drivers buy EVs. The move formalizes a pivot that began when Green stopped accepting hybrids in the US, and makes the EV option simpler for riders to find in the app. Reuters
“Uber Electric is more than a new name—it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally over the past five years.” — Pradeep Parameswaran, Uber’s Global Head of Mobility. Electrek
Who gets the $4,000—and where
At launch, the Go Electric grants apply to drivers in California, Colorado, Massachusetts and New York City. Uber says the cash can stack with state incentives such as Massachusetts’ MOR‑EV and Colorado’s Clean Fleet Program, lowering the effective price of an EV even further. The Verge
Fine print to know (high level):
- The $4,000 is a grant to support a new or used EV purchase (separate from per‑ride bonuses Uber has offered in the past). Reuters
- Terms, eligibility, and timing vary by market; Uber directs drivers to apply through the Driver app via the Go Electric flow. Reuters
- In parallel, some city/driver incentives remain active (e.g., Zero Emissions incentive payouts per 200 EV trips through Nov 3, 2025, in certain markets). Uber
Why Uber is doing this now
With the federal EV tax credit no longer available, adoption risked stalling. As The Verge put it: “With the EV tax credit gone, Uber has resorted to paying drivers to switch to EVs.” The Verge
Uber has repeatedly framed electrification as core to its climate goals. “We set an audacious goal: to transform Uber into a zero‑emissions platform by 2040,” CEO Dara Khosrowshahi wrote earlier, calling for faster action from both the private and public sectors. Uber
What riders will notice
- The in‑app EV ride option is now labeled Uber Electric. The Verge
- A limited‑time 20% discount (up to $8) is available with GOELECTRIC20. The Verge
- Behind the scenes, battery‑aware matching is expanding so EV drivers get trips they can finish on the charge they have—reducing cancellations and detours to chargers. Reuters
What this means for drivers
Electric rideshare economics can be favorable when utilization is high and charging is predictable:
- Cost curve: RMI estimates that switching a rideshare vehicle from gasoline to electric saves ~$0.10 per mile on fuel and maintenance. RMI
- On‑platform momentum: Uber says drivers in the US, Canada and Europe are adopting EVs 5× faster than average motorists—now 200,000+ EVs on the platform. Reuters
- Extra earning levers: In select markets, Uber still runs per‑trip Zero Emissions bonuses for EV drivers (e.g., periodic payments after 200 EV rides). Uber
Caveats: Vehicle upfront cost, charging access (especially for apartment dwellers), and downtime remain hurdles. Uber says widening battery‑aware dispatch and adding charging partnerships are meant to chip away at those pain points. Uber
Hybrids: what changes?
Uber spent 2024–2025 shifting Green to EV‑only in multiple regions; today’s Uber Electric branding cements that direction. If you drive a hybrid, you’ll still have access to UberX and other categories, but Electric trips are EV‑only. Reuters
Context: partnerships and the road ahead
Uber has sought to lower EV acquisition costs via automaker tie‑ups. In 2024, Uber and BYD announced a multi‑year plan to place ~100,000 BYD EVs with drivers across Europe and Latin America (with other regions to follow), including financing support—another lever to bring down TCO. AP News
The company also touted an AI assistant (built on GPT‑4o) to help drivers navigate EV incentives, vehicle choices and charging logistics—signaling more product work around electrification support. Reuters
Expert & stakeholder voices (selected)
- Pradeep Parameswaran, Uber: “Uber Electric is more than a new name—it represents the real progress we’ve made toward electrifying our platform globally…” Electrek
- Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber: “We set an audacious goal: to transform Uber into a zero‑emissions platform by 2040.” Uber
- RMI (on TCO): “Switching a rideshare vehicle from gasoline to electric presents average savings of about $0.10/mile.” RMI
- The Verge (context): “With the EV tax credit gone, Uber has resorted to paying drivers to switch to EVs…” The Verge
How to check eligibility & apply (quick guide)
- Open the Uber Driver app → look for Go Electric enrollment or in‑app banners in CA, CO, MA, NYC. The Verge
- Review terms (market‑specific) and how the $4,000 grant interacts with state‑level programs. The Verge
- If you’re in a market with Zero Emissions per‑ride bonuses, confirm active timelines and stacking rules. Uber
Bottom line
Uber is swapping a fuzzy “green” label for a clearer promise: electric only. The company is putting cash on the hood for drivers in select markets, while nudging riders with promos and smoothing EV logistics with battery‑aware matching. The grants are limited at launch—but for drivers on the fence, they may be the nudge that finally makes the math work. Reuters
Sources & further reading
- Reuters: rebrand to Uber Electric, $4,000 Go Electric driver grants; battery‑aware matching to 25 countries; promo details. Reuters
- The Verge: launch markets (CA, CO, MA, NYC), policy backdrop, rider promo, feature expansion. The Verge
- Electrek: worldwide label change, GOELECTRIC20 code, exec quote, four eligible regions. Electrek
- Uber (Newsroom & Blog): long‑term climate targets; 2025 Colorado EV incentive structure; charging/EV support features. Uber
- BYD partnership: plan to place ~100,000 BYD EVs on Uber’s platform (Europe/LatAm first). AP News
