1\/2<\/p>\n The reason for the switch is not that surprising. The recent expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit in the US is expected to put a serious dent in EV sales, which will make it harder for Uber drivers to make the switch while also keeping their costs inline. Uber\u2019s new offer is aimed at softening the blow for many drivers who relied on the credit for both used and new EVs.<\/p>\n Not every driver will be eligible for the grants, at least not initially. As part of Uber\u2019s new \u201cGo Electric\u201d program, drivers in New York City, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts can apply for $4,000 when they switch to a new or used EV. When combined with local incentives, like Massachusetts\u2019 MOR-EV<\/a> and Colorado\u2019s Clean Fleet Program<\/a>, EV prices can drop even further.<\/p>\n Uber notes that the $4,000 amount was the same as the recently expired federal tax credit for used EVs. Through \u201cGo Electric,\u201d Uber is hoping to make up for the loss of the tax credit by putting up its own money for EV purchases.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a bumpy ride for Uber in its quest to eliminate gas guzzlers from its platform. During the EV exuberance of 2021, rental company Hertz announced the purchase of 100,000 Teslas<\/a> and 65,000 Polestars<\/a>, with the aim to rent some of them to ridehail drivers. But high rates of depreciation led Hertz to reverse the deals and offload most of its EVs<\/a> it had already acquired.<\/p>\n Uber notes that the $4,000 amount was the same as the recently expired federal tax credit for used EVs<\/p>\n But Uber has stuck to its commitment<\/a> to get more drivers in EVs. Last year, the company announced a partnership with Chinese auto giant BYD to put drivers in 100,000 EVs in Europe and Latin America. There are currently 200,000 EV drivers on Uber\u2019s platform globally, the company says.<\/p>\n Of course, getting the hundreds of thousands of people who drive for Uber to switch to electric vehicles will be no easy task<\/a>. Ridehail drivers are classified as independent contractors, and many use their personal cars to drive for not just one but several gig economy companies. Uber can\u2019t just force all its drivers to make the switch without jeopardizing their status as freelancers. Also, EVs tend to be more expensive than gas vehicles, despite costing less to fuel and maintain. That steep upfront cost may make it a challenge for many drivers, who typically operate with incredibly tight margins.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Uber said that Uber Green, the company\u2019s EV and hybrid ridehailing product, would become an EV-only feature. Previously, Uber Green featured both electric and hybrid vehicles, offering an extra per-trip fee (usually $1) to drivers who used any vehicle with less tailpipe pollution. Now, under the Uber Electric branding, the company is offering discounts to riders of 20 percent, or up to $8 off, for EV rides with the code GOELECTRIC20. (The offer is valid for seven days.)<\/p>\n Uber is also expanding its battery-aware matching feature to more EV brands. The feature filters trip requests based on an EV\u2019s battery level so drivers can accept trips that end near a charger or avoid trips that are too long for their battery. The feature is now launching in 25 countries in the US, Canada, and Europe. And it will now support EVs from Kia, Hyundai, Ford, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz.<\/p>\n Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew J. HawkinsClose Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n PlusFollow<\/p>\n See All by Andrew J. Hawkins<\/a><\/p>\n Electric CarsCloseElectric Cars<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n PlusFollow<\/p>\n See All Electric Cars<\/a><\/p>\n NewsCloseNews<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n PlusFollow<\/p>\n See All News<\/a><\/p>\n Ride-sharingCloseRide-sharing<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n PlusFollow<\/p>\n See All Ride-sharing<\/a><\/p>\n TransportationCloseTransportation<\/p>\n Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.<\/p>\n PlusFollow<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Uber-Electric.png\"\/)
<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Battery-Aware-Matching.png\"\/)
<\/a>PreviousNext<\/p>\n![\"Andrew](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/ANDREW_HAWKINS.0.jpg\"\/)
Andrew J. Hawkins<\/p>\n