Uber Puts $4,000 on the Table for EV Drivers
In a major pivot, Uber is now paying drivers up to $4,000 to switch to electric vehicles. The ride-hailing giant is doubling down on its promise to go all-electric by 2030 in North America—and it’s putting real money behind that goal.
No More Tax Credit? No Problem (Sort Of)
The federal $7,500 EV tax credit is gone. That was a key support for many gig workers looking to afford an EV. Uber’s grant helps fill the gap—especially for drivers who missed out.
Drivers in New York, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts can apply under the new “Go Electric” program. And when combined with local incentives, like Massachusetts’ MOR-EV or Colorado’s Clean Fleet Program, the final price of an EV could drop significantly.
Uber Electric Is the New Uber Green
Say goodbye to “Uber Green.” The company is rebranding it as Uber Electric, and it’s now an EV-only offering. Riders can get up to $8 off their next electric trip using the promo code GOELECTRIC20—but only for the next seven days.
Uber says it already has 200,000 EVs on the platform globally. Last year, it teamed up with BYD to bring 100,000 EVs to Europe and Latin America. The movement is real.
EVs Still Aren’t a Smooth Ride
But hurdles remain. Most Uber drivers are independent contractors, not employees. Uber can’t just demand they switch cars. Plus, EVs cost more upfront, even though they’re cheaper to run and maintain.
The good news? Uber’s not stopping. It’s also expanding its battery-aware trip-matching system to cover more EV brands like Kia, Ford, VW, and Mercedes. This helps drivers avoid long trips that could drain their batteries.
Final Take
Uber is betting $4,000 a driver will be enough to turbocharge EV adoption. Will it be enough? Time—and charging infrastructure—will tell.
