Curious abut the car-less life? It’s a question that Uber wants Aussies to ask themselves as they unveil their ambitious plans to eliminate vehicle emissions and reshape how we move. From expanding the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to encouraging people to embrace car free transport options, Uber’s latest initiatives aim to create a more sustainable future. Here’s what you need to know.
The future for rideshare goes green
At the recent Go-Get Zero climate event in London, Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, highlighted the company’s global aim to become a zero-emissions platform by 2040. Uber Australia is fully onboard, announcing new product updates that will help riders and drivers transition to electric. Their popular ‘Uber Green’ service, currently offering low- or no-emission rides with hybrid or electric vehicles, will evolve into a fully electric product by April 2025. This will be the second fully electric option in Australia, following Uber’s Comfort Electric.
Unlike the premium Comfort Electric service, Uber Green will remain affordable, matching the pricing of the standard Uber X service. Emma Foley, Managing Director of Uber Australia & New Zealand, believes this will make greener transport accessible to more Australians, while also accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles across the country. With 25,000 rides already happening in EVs every day, Uber is laying the groundwork for a car-light future.
Supporting the second-hand EV market
One of the major barriers to going electric is the cost, and Uber is tackling this challenge head-on by doubling down on the second-hand EV market. In collaboration with Car Empire, they’re offering used EVs like the Nissan Leaf to Uber drivers at more affordable prices. This initiative has seen a positive response in Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and will soon expand to include a broader range of EV models, including the Kia EV6 and Volvo EX30.
Uber’s partnership with Splend is also making EVs more accessible. Drivers can choose from various EV models, such as the Tesla Model 3 or Polestar 2, through rental or ownership schemes designed to be cheaper than traditional finance options. As Uber aims to have 10,000 EVs operating across Australia by 2025, the focus is on making the shift to electric as seamless and affordable as possible for drivers.
Could you ditch your wheels?
While EVs are a crucial part of Uber’s strategy, they recognise that true sustainability involves rethinking our reliance on cars altogether. To this end, Uber is launching a large-scale study in Sydney called “One Less Car.” Following a smaller trial, which saw 58 participants give up their cars for a month, the new study will involve over 2,400 Sydneysiders going car-free for three weeks.
The aim is to understand how people can live without private vehicles by relying on alternative transport options such as public transit, cycling, e-bikes, and walking. The study will examine price, service, infrastructure, and policy, offering insights into how Sydney – and other Australian cities – could shift towards a car-light future.
Emma Foley says, “If all we do is electrify every car on Australian roads, we’ll have missed a key piece of the puzzle. We need to fundamentally rethink how people move through our cities and break the default habit of relying on private cars for every trip.”
Uber’s vision of an emissions-free future isn’t just about switching to electric vehicles – it’s about transforming the way we move entirely. By offering affordable electric rides, supporting the second-hand EV market, and encouraging car-free living through research and innovation, Uber hopes to lead Australia – and the world – towards a greener, more sustainable future. The question is: could you go car-free and be part of this change?
As Uber prepares to scale its sustainability efforts, it’s clear that the road ahead will be electric, shared, and supported by a wide range of greener transport options. So, could you be one of the many Australians to embrace this vision and say goodbye to your car for good? Head to Uber to find out more.