Uber has launched an initiative to add electric vehicles to its fleet in Portland. Sure, the company may not have shared the best relationship with the city however, it is now preparing to put all that behind it and embark upon a new road.
The cab aggregator is teaming up with non-profit Drive Oregon in a bid to help it through its goal of getting more electric vehicles on the road. The company is likely to deploy the usual combination of incentives plus educational initiatives so as to ensure that at least 10% of its Oregon fleet becomes electric by 2019. At present, the numbers are quite paltry and merely 100 of the 6,000 vehicles operational across the state are electric. However, the cab aggregator hopes to change all that in a couple of years.
Our executive director at the @Uber #ElectricVehicle program launch! #DriveElectric pic.twitter.com/DZiutTeh01
— Drive Oregon (@DriveOregon) April 12, 2017
The company is also embarking upon a range of local partnerships to make its aim come about. For instance, it will be working with Portland’s Black Parent Initiative in a bid to get electric cars to underserved communities. Also in on the deal is Cynergy E-Bikes, that will seek to connect UberEATS couriers with electric bikes. Uber is also expected to deploy its auto-lease subsidiary Xchange Leasing, so as to offer deals and collaborations to drivers who want to start driving electric vehicles.
Speaking about its mission, the company said:
The City of Portland has also adopted some of the nation’s most aggressive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Uber Electric will help Portland and the state of Oregon achieve these important clean energy goals.
Uber is not alone. Companies like Car2GO and ReachNow have already initiated similar initiatives in order to increase the electric car penetration of the famously green city. However, it is certainly the largest. Maintaining relationships and kicking off initiatives like this are important not only for the environment, but could also help the company get in the good books of the city.
