Uber Launches Green Rides Option in Spain

By Maitane Sardon

Uber Technologies Inc. said Friday that it is launching a program allowing users to request an electric vehicle in Spain as it moves to accelerate the decarbonization of its European fleet.

The ride-hailing company said the initiative, called Uber Green, will help it reach its goal of becoming a "zero-emissions platform" in Europe, the U.S. and Canada by 2030.

To encourage drivers in Spain to make the switch to EVs, Uber said it has partnered with Banco Santander SA to provide them with discounted leasing plans.

It has also teamed up with Spanish oil-and-gas company Repsol SA to give drivers on its ride-hailing platform access to charging discounts at service stations, the company said.

Uber, which aims to have an all-electric fleet by 2040, said it has made some progress since the launch of the program in major European cities. It said it has doubled the number of fully electric vehicles in London since March last year. In Paris, Uber said that 31% of all kilometers on its platform are in EVs or petrol hybrids.

As of November last year, electric cars accounted for less than 5% of kilometers driven by Uber in Europe, according to think-tank Transport & Environment.

Write to Maitane Sardon at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 14, 2022 07:46 ET (12:46 GMT)

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