The time is ticking for Uber to electrify its fleet, and the ride-sharing company hopes to help automakers by designing cheaper electric vehicles for drivers.
Lawmakers have set deadlines for ride-sharing companies to dump fossil fuels (such as the California Air Resources Board). Uber has set its own electrification deadline ranging from 2025 to 2030. people, including rideshare drivers.
That’s why chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi said Uber is in talks with automakers to produce EVs that sacrifice speed or one or two wheels to keep prices down. increase. The CEO didn’t name the specific automaker Uber is believed to be working with, but the company debuted last year. Centered on ride sharing prototype From the arrival of the UK-based carmaker.
“The top speeds that many cars have are not necessary for city driving associated with rideshares,” Khosrowshahi said at a Wall Street Journal event. We are also talking about vehicles,” he added. “You can imagine a small vehicle, such as a two-wheeler, a three-wheeler, etc. Trunk He has a much smaller footprint than a car, both in terms of the environment and traffic, where the space can easily pass through traffic. “
The CEO also said the passenger area could change, allowing riders to “face each other.” (The executive also didn’t say whether Uber would bear the detailed costs from the motion sickness bouts.
When it comes to delivering meals and groceries, Uber isn’t the only company seeing potential in smaller vehicles with fewer wheels. Even in markets like the US, where auto-rickshaws are not common, several companies have discussed the idea in recent years, including Arcimoto and ElectraMeccanica.
