Electric vehicles are catching up, and it's for the better as they release way less emission compared to combustion engine cars. However, the EV charging station systems are still not as well-managed as gas stations, but Uber established a feature that helps with that.
Uber's Smart Charging
The rideshare company acknowledges that drivers are still facing barriers when it comes to transitioning to electric cars. Aside from the high cost of the sustainable vehicles, charging EVs isn't as easy as finding a gas station at every turn.
As a response, Uber is adding a smart charging feature into the system, wherein drivers can check the Uber Driver app to check out real-time information like charging prices, how long it will take to charge a vehicle, as well as factors like traffic to spot the best place to recharge.
This can eliminate many uncertainties that drivers may face as they switch to an eco-friendly car such as worrying about the range of the vehicle their using, or if they will miss out on peak earning times as they recharge the EV, as pointed out by Uber.
To make these solutions a reality, the rideshare company is investing $800 million in resources, which will help fund other services such as Battery-Aware Matching, where drivers can filter trip requests and accommodate rides based on the vehicle's battery level.
Not only will the service allow drivers to get rid of the anxiety of running out of juice mid-ride. Uber's system will also make sure that by the end of the trip, they will be near an EV charging station to avoid trips that could deplete the battery further.
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The Company's Commitment to Going Green
Uber's smart charging feature is just one of many measures that it's taking for a more eco-friendly service. In order for drivers to appreciate the transition, they will be able to determine the impact of driving an electricity-powered car.
Through the Emission Savings feature, the driver will be able to see the emissions they have avoided as they choose Green and Comfort Electric rides. They can easily check the data by going to the Accounts page in the app.
Uber has also created a way for drivers who still use fuel to be as efficient as possible. The company's mapping algorithms now include factors such as fuel consumption, all without having to increase the duration of the trip as well as the fare for riders.
It also considers other traffic conditions like how much a driver would stop at all the red lights on the road, which could lead to more fuel consumption. It also computes the elevation of the roads that the vehicle might take to reach a destination, avoiding steep routes if it can.
According to the company's blog post, this has led to drivers collectively avoiding 9,800 metric tons of CO2, or 4.2 million liters of gasoline in just a few months. Seeing the success of the algorithm, Uber intends to roll out the update globally this 2023.
