Uber Launches EV program Uber Green in India| Unveils Partnerships

Uber has announced the launch of Uber Green in India, its global flagship electric vehicle (EV) program. Starting from June 2023, Uber Green will be available in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, allowing passengers to request zero-emission, all-electric vehicles through the app. Uber Green is currently operational in over 100 cities across 15 countries.

Uber has formed partnerships with several industry players to electrify its services in India:

• Fleet Partners: Uber is expanding its network of fleet partners to facilitate EV adoption. Lithium Urban Technologies, Everest Fleet, and Moove will deploy 25,000 EVs across Uber’s top seven cities in India, enabling drivers to transition to electric vehicles more quickly.

• EV Two-Wheeler Partnership: Uber is collaborating with Zypp Electric, an EV-as-a-service startup, to deploy 10,000 electric two-wheelers by 2024. Over 1000 Zypp Electric two-wheelers are already deployed on Uber Moto in Delhi.

• EV Financing: Uber has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) to support the purchase of cleaner fuel vehicles, including EVs and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. The partnership will provide loans of approximately Rs 1,000 crores, encouraging the shift from high-emission vehicles to low or zero-emission alternatives.

• EV Charging Infrastructure: Uber has formed two partnerships for charging infrastructure. It is bringing its global mobility agreement with bp pulse to India in collaboration with Jio-bp, allowing Uber drivers to access the charging network and supporting the development of new charging infrastructure. Additionally, Uber has signed an MoU with GMR Green Energy to create tailored charging facilities.

The company has significantly increased the number of electric vehicles on its platform and facilitated millions of rides in electric vehicles in 2022, the statement said. Andrew Macdonald, Senior Vice President of Mobility and Business Operations at Uber, emphasized the company’s commitment to electrify every ride on its platform by 2040, citing India’s significant scale and electrification momentum as reasons for prioritizing the country.

Prabhjeet Singh, President of Uber India and South Asia, acknowledged that the transition to electric vehicles is a challenge beyond Uber’s capabilities alone. To ensure success, the economic burden of the transition should not fall solely on drivers. Singh expressed confidence that the partnerships announced by Uber would help drivers adopt electric vehicles more rapidly and contribute to a sustainable transition in India’s ride-sharing industry.