Uber drivers in London can now benefit from a £5k grant and free charging offer to help encourage the switch to electric vehicles.

The new measures are part of a landmark electrification push designed to expedite the swap into EVs

The new measures, which also include additional discounts of up to £17,000 off a range of EVs, are part of a landmark electrification push designed to expedite the swap into EVs.

London is already Uber’s leading city for EVs globally with 25% of Uber’s miles in the capital now fully electric. However, more incentives are needed for Uber to meet its target of being all-electric in London by the end of 2025.

The new £5,000 ‘Power-up’ grants are expected to be a key lure. These are available to all London Uber drivers not already in an EV to spend on a new or used electric vehicle, funded through Uber’s £145m Clean Air Plan. Drivers can spend their grant cash as a lump-sum on a purchase, or on a rental or rent-to-buy deal – through which drivers make weekly payments – and Uber says its network of partners means that drivers can switch to an EV within a day.

Uber drivers can also benefit from big EV discounts as part of Uber’s fund. Additional discounts of between £12,000 and £17,000 are available on various models – including selected Kia EVs – giving drivers up to £22,000 off an EV if combined with the Power-up grant.

All EV drivers are also eligible for up to three months of free charging credits worth £750 and then an exclusive charging rate through BP Pulse.

Uber is also offering enhanced rider incentives to encourage EV demand. Its promotions give Londoners 10% off their first Uber Green trip while drivers who take Uber Green trips also earn 10% more per trip compared to UberX.

Redbridge Council has also announced the installation of 34 EV chargers – equating to 68 charge points – funded by Uber as part of a £5m investment to install 700 chargers across three London boroughs.

Uber said its drivers in London are going electric eight times faster than the general public – but more work is needed to ensure the transition to EV is cheaper, faster and more efficient for drivers.

Andrew Brem, general manager of Uber in the UK, also drew attention to a BloombergNEF report published earlier this year, which said further action was needed to increase affordable EV supply, improve charging infrastructure, and target incentives towards high-mileage drivers to boost electrification progress across Europe.

Brem said: “Now is the time to speed up on electrification, not slow down. We cannot reach our collective zero-emission goals without continued action from policymakers and investment across the industry. Uber drivers can be the catalyst for accelerating electrification across the transport sector but collaboration will be crucial to combat air pollution and work towards a more sustainable future.”

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “I am determined to achieve my mission to make London a net zero city by 2030, and the electrification of our buses and cars is absolutely key to this. I welcome this initiative which will give drivers who need it a helping hand to switch their petrol or diesel vehicle for an electric one. Schemes such as this are helping us to build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”