Uber’s decision to get greener meant that some users have less green options.
Photo: RNZ / REBEKAH PARSONS-KING
Uber users by choosing the “green” option for your tour may be used to the driver who appears in a reliable Toyota Prius.
But new patterns that the company introduced on the average Wednesday of gasoline hybrid cars like Prius no longer count how green tours are fully electric models qualify.
The measure promises to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but led people not to find a Uber Green.
It is part of the company’s global goal of having zero exhaust tube emissions by 2040.
This goal includes Australia and New Zealand – but the two countries have a much smaller EV capture than other markets where Uber operates, Ashleigh Cormack, the company’s head of sustainability policy, said in Australlasses.
“I think it is fair to say that when you look at EV by globally New Zealand and Australia are not as advanced as EU and US markets,” she said.
Cormack said Uber drivers like the Ves, as their main weekly cost in a typical car is currently gasoline.
But the initial cost is a barrier, with some models being sold for $ 60-70,000.
After offering Drivers’ discount rates to change EVs two years ago, Uber has now partnered with two New Zealand companies – Mevo and GVI – offering driver rental and more affordable electric cars access with the option of finance.
“Currently, the kilometers of EV in New Zealand in the Uber app are 5 %, and the costume of Ves is less than 2 % for the average driver. We are at the point with 5 % where we think we can launch a reliable product.”
The Uber Brendan user, a Wellington accountant, was pleased with the change.
He said he wouldn’t mind waiting a little more for his tour if he had lower emissions.
“I use it because I try and decrease my carbon footprint where I can. I think I only had a complete EV when I was chosen by Uber Green and now I am questioning in my head how green is that? So, pressing for the full adoption of EV, I am in favor.”
The company expected the availability of green tours to fall, with the change of use of hybrids.
But several users on Thursday and Friday last week reported that the Green option was not available.
People who use the app at Auckland and Wellington reported that the green option no longer appeared when they requested a walk even at the central locations.
RNZ understands that if a green vehicle is not available in what the company considers a reasonable time, the option simply does not appear.
The company is planning that its movements to encourage drivers to become electric, will begin to increase the EV pool.
Cormack said the hope was for drivers to see the benefit and want to take advantage of the opportunity to access a group of clients surrounded by the ring.
SUBSCRIBE IN NGā Pytopito Kōrero, A daily bulletin curated by our editors and delivers directly to your inbox every day of the week.
