On Wednesday, January 17, we cut the ribbon on new EV fast chargers at Kimball Junction, completing the charging corridor from the Salt Lake City International Airport to Park City, but that wasn’t the only thing worth celebrating– our partners Forth Mobility and Rocky Mountain Power also introduced the Live Electric Ride Hailing Program.
This innovative, 3-year program aligns ride sharing companies with a new generation of electric transportation modes. Forth and Rocky Mountain Power have a goal of converting 1 in 10 rideshare drivers to electric vehicles by the end of the program.
“Setting the [electric vehicle] example here is critical for the future,” said Lt. Governor Spencer J. Cox of the initiative.
“Uber seeks to build a more sustainable future of mobility by moving more people with more efficient vehicles and trips. Uber can offer new, market-driven tools to help advance EV adoption and we are excited about bringing these benefits to drivers, riders and cities,” said Craig Hulse, Public Affairs Manager for Uber Utah. “With Forth Mobility and Rocky Mountain Power making this investment in fast charging stations available to Uber EV drivers, clean transportation options will be more available than ever.”
The Live Electric Ride Hailing program means bigger profits for uber and lyft drivers– especially with recent studies showing that Utah is one of the cheapest states to charge your EV, and with the expanding fast charger infrastructure.
The program is providing incentives for uber and lyft drivers to go electric, like cash cards to cover expenses where free charging isn’t available and eventually a low cost leasing/purchasing option for drivers who want to be a part of the electric push.
EV training will be a part of the program too, because in cities with similar programs (Portland, Oregon and London), it’s a conversation starter. The hope is that not only will the program put more EVs on the road directly, rideshare customers will think about going electric.