New York City will be requiring Uber and Lyft to go full electric by 2030, as an effort to electrify the whole city's fleet of vehicles. During this transition, NYC will install charging infrastructure to support these vehicles throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
(Photo : Spencer Platt/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NY - JULY 30: A Lyft ride hailing vehicle moves through traffic in Manhattan on July 30, 2018 in New York City. After a significant increase in local traffic and a spate of suicides by taxi drivers, New York City is planning to vote on capping ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft. The City Council's move to vote on the measures could come as soon as Aug. 8. If the vote was to succeed, New York City would become the first major U.S. municipality to cap ride-sharing services.
Requiring Ride-Sharing Companies to Go Electric
During his speech for State of the City, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced an important news for its ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The city will be requiring ride-sharing companies to go fully electric by 2030.
According to the city's official website, this will be implemented by the Taxi and Limousine Commission. While the transition is happening, Adams' administration will be installing charging infrastructure to power the vehicles that will be used for this movement.
Adams stated in his speech that public safety is more than protecting the streets, as it goes beyond protecting our environment. Especially since the working class-neighborhoods have been affected by the burden of highways and heavy industry for too long, which led to polluted air and increasing asthma rates.
Aside from ride-sharing companies, the city also encouraged residents to switch with electric vehicles as well. By adding charging stations in all five boroughs of the city, EVs will be more accessible to everybody.
This strategy was a part of New York City's goal to achieve 100 percent clean electricity by 2040.
Uber & Lyft's Response
The strategy was commended by some companies as they were already on board with this idea, including Uber and Lyft, who extended their support and excitement to work with authorities and city officials.
The Verge reported that both companies are already planning to go completely electric by the same year, which will not be difficult for them to achieve.
Lyft Sustainability Director Paul Augustine shares his excitement about this partnership. He stated, "New York's commitment will accelerate an equitable city-wide transition to electric, and we're eager to collaborate with the TLC on an ambitious plan for a rideshare clean mile standard."
Meanwhile, Uber Policy Senior Director Josh Gold applauded the city mayor's ambition to reduce emissions as the company shares the same goal. He added, "Uber has been making real progress to become the first zero-emissions mobility platform in North America, and there's much more to do."
New York City officials were pleased that both companies are embracing this transition and efforts to improve the environment and fight climate change.
Despite this strategy being an environmental insurgence, Engadget reported that there will be challenges to achieving the individual goals of Uber, Lyft, and the whole city.
Drivers of ride-sharing companies may face difficulties in transitioning as electric vehicles are more expensive than their traditional engine counterparts. Affording these vehicles may be challenging for them even if the costs for maintenance and EV prices are becoming lower.
