Major change to Uber in Australia as new feature rolled out

A brand new feature has been rolled out in Uber apps in Australia.

Uber has introduced a new feature to the ride sharing app in a bid to encourage Aussies to make greener choices.

Under their new ‘Rider Emissions Savings’ feature, riders can see an estimation of the CO₂ emissions they saved when travelling with two sustainable ride options – ‘Uber Green’ and ‘Comfort Electric’.

Uber Green, which is the same price as a UberX, allows passengers to ride in an electric or hybrid car.

The more expensive ‘Comfort Electric’ option, allows passengers to ride in a fully

electric car which has completed at least 100 rides and maintained a minimum rating of 4.85.

Uber has introduced a new Rider Emissions Savings feature. Picture: Uber

Aussies can see how many kilograms of CO2 they have saved when travelling with ‘Uber Green’ or ‘Comfort Electric’ by visiting the account screen of the app.

The total saved emissions are calculated based on the amount of tailpipe emissions avoided compared to UberX or ‘Uber Comfort’ trips of the same distance in your city.

The app then compares saved emissions to the equivalent gas, mileage of a petrol car and landfill saved.

Anna Brito, Head of Sustainability, Strategy & Planning for Uber Australia and New Zealand said the ride share company wants to make it easier for passengers to opt for a lower-emissions lifestyle.

“We hope this new feature encourages Aussies to reconsider their habits when it comes to greener ways of travelling,” she said in a statement.

The feature allows riders to see an estimation of the CO₂ emissions they saved when travelling with Uber Green and Comfort Electric. Picture: Uber

The total saves emissions are compared to the equivalent gas, mileage of a petrol car and landfill saved. Picture: Uber

Ms Brito said Uber was acting on its big emission-cutting initiatives.

Tens of millions of dollars have been spent subsidising driver commission fees, saving Australian Uber drivers up to $3500-per-year for three years so the driver can save towards an electric vehicle.

In the first quarter of 2024, Australian Uber riders took 1.8 million EV trips, in more than 4000 EV Ubers.

Those EV trips represent four per cent of Uber drivers’ kilometres for the period.

The news comes as Australia EV car sales grew by more than 10 per cent in May, after a five per cent dip in April.

So far this year, EV sales are up almost 27 per cent, while sales of hybrids have doubled in the same period.

– With NCA NewsWire

Originally published as Major change to Uber in Australia as new feature rolled out