Uber and Lyft: Electric only in New York

Every year, more and more cities and countries are introducing bans on internal combustion vehicles, while the stock of electric vehicles continues to grow in both the private and commercial sectors. The number of companies that rely on electric vehicles, for example to deliver goods within environmental zones, is also increasing - or at least invest in one form of green mobility or another. This certainly includes the ride service provider Uber, which operates in more than 600 cities and 77 countries, and its competitor in the North American market, Lyft. Already a few years ago, the two companies had announced that they would focus on more environmentally friendly cars in the near future. With the intention of converting all cars participating in the ride-hailing service into electric cars.  

Now, the US City of New York is demanding a further step on the part of the ride providers, calling for the electrification of the fleet to take place by 2030. This would affect around 100,000 cars, with a significant impact on the industry. Only electric Uber and Lyfts will be allowed to operate in the so-called boroughs - and indeed districts of the metropolis - from that date. This is the decision of NY Mayor Eric Adams, as US media recently reported. According to his plan, not only vehicles of the two companies would be asked to rely on an e-motor. The city's taxi fleet, for example, would also have to comply with the new standard and only accept electric vehicles. An appropriate expansion and optimisation of the infrastructure is also planned, Adams added - so that the necessary conditions for the operation of all electric vehicles on the city's territory can exist.  

Positive support for the project from the New York mayor's office has been shown so far, he said. Even Uber and Lyft were happy to accept the challenge - and therefore did not feel compelled to follow a costly plan imposed by outside political forces. Regardless of Adam's decision, they planned to participate in the acceleration of transport electrification and assert themselves over the competition as the first zero-emission platform in North America. Just as they responded to consumer mobility needs at the height of the "sharing economy", Uber and Lyft are now moving with the times and positioning themselves advantageously in terms of the electric mobility trend.  

Whether they like it or not, it is currently clear that the automotive market is moving in this direction. The planned phasing out of internal combustion cars in the European Union, as well as in some states in the USA such as California, is only the latest confirmation of international transport policy intentions with regard to environmental protection. If the two companies, together with the city of New York, succeed in creating sufficient infrastructure for all electric vehicles, the initiative could set a good example - and inspire more and more cities around the world to implement similar mobility projects. Where companies and politicians work together not only for the sake of profit, but also - and ideally, above all - for the development of a more sustainable transport situation in terms of climate goals.