Uber on Thursday announced the launch of its flagship electric vehicle service, Uber Green, in Kolkata, marking a step towards eco-friendly urban transportation.
The company has committed to becoming a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2030 in Europe and North America and globally by 2040.
Uber on Thursday announced the launch of its flagship electric vehicle service, Uber Green, in Kolkata, marking a step towards eco-friendly urban transportation.
Uber becomes the second ride-hailing service provider to offer electric vehicles in the city, following Snap E, another brand operating with an all-EV fleet.
"Enhancing the air quality in Kolkata is a shared duty we all must embrace. I commend Uber for introducing 'Uber Green' in Kolkata, a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions in our city," West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty said.
"This service allows residents to book zero-emission rides with ease through the Uber app, promoting sustainable travel across the city, including routes to and from Kolkata International Airport," Uber said in a statement.
The company did not disclose details on the number of vehicles under Uber Green or its expansion plans for the city.
The company has committed to becoming a zero-emissions mobility platform by 2030 in Europe and North America and globally by 2040. EV drivers on Uber are going electric five times faster than the general public, the company stated.
Uber has been trying to push its Uber Green feature. As per the company statement, “Drivers on Uber Green help cities move more people with rides in electric cars, including hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and 100% battery electric vehicles.”
As of now, Uber Green is available only in certain cities. In India, it is available in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata, which were added recently. Similarly, it is available in several global locations.
Mumbai was the first place where it was launched, and it was followed by Bengaluru and other states. In March this year, the company also introduced a new feature for Uber Green to track CO2 emissions.
Speaking about the new feature, Nitish Bhushan, Head of Central Operations, Uber India, said, “We understand that often it is tough for people to realize exactly how much they contribute to the environment by taking a single ride in a vehicle running on sustainable energy. The scale of that impact is an important tool to have at their fingertips in order for them to make more informed decisions around sustainability in their day-to-day lives.”
(With inputs from PTI)