Uber accelerates London’s electric vehicle shift with new £5,000 driver grants and incentives
Uber has announced a major initiative to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among its London drivers. Starting tomorrow, all Uber drivers in the capital who are not yet driving an EV can apply for a £5,000 grant to help purchase a new or used electric vehicle.
This move is part of Uber's broader strategy to transition to a fully electric fleet in London by the end of 2025.
Currently, London stands as Uber’s top city worldwide for EV usage, with 25% of all Uber miles in the city being electric. Despite this achievement, Uber recognises the need for additional incentives to meet its ambitious all-electric goal within the next two years.
In collaboration with various partners, Uber is introducing several key measures to boost EV uptake:
Power-up Grants: Uber drivers can use the £5,000 grants towards the cost of acquiring a new or used EV. This funding comes from Uber’s Clean Air Plan.
Significant EV Discounts: Drivers can receive additional discounts ranging from £12,000 to £17,000 on selected EV models, including some from Kia’s award-winning range. This could mean a total saving of up to £22,000 when combined with the Power-up grant.
Complimentary Charging: EV drivers will benefit from up to three months of free charging credits worth £750, followed by an exclusive charging rate via bp pulse.
Expanded Charging Network: Redbridge Council is deploying 34 dual chargers (68 charge points) funded by Uber, as part of a £5 million investment to install 700 chargers across three London boroughs.
Rider Promotions: Londoners will get 10% off their first Uber Green trip, and drivers will earn 10% more per trip on Uber Green compared to UberX.
Drivers have the flexibility to use their grant for outright purchases, rentals, or rent-to-buy deals, with Uber’s network allowing drivers to switch to an EV within a day.
Uber’s data indicates that London’s Uber drivers are adopting EVs eight times faster than the general public, with a single Uber driver’s switch to electric saving four times the emissions of an average driver. This is highlighted by a BloombergNEF report, which calls for increased affordable EV supply, better charging infrastructure, and targeted incentives for high-mileage drivers to further electrification in Europe.
Support from London’s City Hall, including an exemption from the £15 daily Congestion Charge for EVs, has significantly contributed to the rapid transition. New Uber data shows that the proportion of EV trips in the Congestion Charge Zone more than doubles when the charge is active, greatly reducing air pollution in central London.
Since launching its Clean Air Plan in 2019, Uber has accumulated £145 million to support its drivers in moving to electric vehicles, marking a significant step towards cleaner urban mobility.
Andrew Brem, General Manager of Uber in the UK, said: “Now is the time to speed up on electrification, not slow down. We cannot reach our collective zero-emission goals without continued action from policymakers and investment across the industry. Uber drivers can be the catalyst for accelerating electrification across the transport sector but collaboration will be crucial to combat air pollution and work towards a more sustainable future.”
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “I am determined to achieve my mission to make London a net zero city by 2030, and the electrification of our buses and cars is absolutely key to this. I welcome this initiative which will give drivers who need it a helping hand to switch their petrol or diesel vehicle for an electric one. Schemes like this are helping us to build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”
Steve Hicks, Sales Director of Kia UK, said:, “We are thrilled to put our global Memorandum of Understanding with Uber into practice here in the UK, by supporting the company’s Clean Air Plan in London with the supply of award-winning electric vehicles. Combining Uber’s climate positive target with Kia’s advanced products will accelerate the improvement of London’s air quality and ensure drivers and riders alike will enjoy each journey, with industry leading range capabilities and customer centric practicality and convenience features.”
Akira Kirton, vice president bp pulse UK, said: “bp pulse has partnered with Uber since 2021 on their mission to a ‘zero car emissions future in London by 2025’. bp pulse helps drivers transition to electric through access to our growing number of rapid and ultra-fast charging hubs and keeping their costs down through free bp pulse subscriptions and exclusive charging rates. These will continue and complement the free charging offer announced today – funded by Uber.”
