The agreement between Uber and bp, will allow both companies to leverage their global footprints to support drivers in transitioning to electric vehicles, providing them access to reliable and convenient recharging, including ultra-fast speeds.
Uber aims to have 100% of trips on the platform conducted with electric vehicles, micromobility, or public transportation by 2040.
bp’s ambition is to become a net-zero company by 2050 or earlier and contribute to the world’s net-zero goals.
“I am delighted that we are building upon our existing relationship and now have a global agreement to support ride-hail drivers with charging and more, at scale, helping Uber achieve its incredible 2040 ambition,” acknowledges Richard Bartlett, CEO of bp pulse.
Uber and bp will initially focus on collaborating in key markets such as Europe, the USA, and the UK to support Uber’s goals for 2030, followed by other countries like Australia and New Zealand.
The regional teams of both companies will work together to offer Uber platform drivers personalized access to bp pulse’s high-speed recharging network, including special offers.
Bartlett states: “Uber platform drivers need valuable access to fast and reliable charging infrastructure as they make the transition to electricity.”
He adds: “We are investing billions of dollars worldwide in high-speed charging for electric vehicles, digital products and services, and large-scale bp pulse Gigahubs that will help commercial customers eliminate emissions from the tailpipe.”
Uber and bp pulse initiated their strategic relationship in 2021 when bp opened its first commercial fast-charging center in Park Lane, London.
Uber was bp’s first ride-hailing platform customer to gain access to the new hub providing charging points to Uber platform drivers.
London is Uber’s primary market for electrification, with over 15% of Uber’s kilometers driven in London being fully electric.
Platform drivers in Europe are transitioning to electric vehicles five times faster than the general population, and the company aspires to have a 100% electric fleet in London by the end of 2025.
Christopher Hook, Uber’s Global Director of Sustainability, affirms: “We want Uber to be the cleanest platform on the planet because it’s the right thing for consumers, our cities, and our business. Getting to 100% electricity is not something Uber can do alone.”
“It’s a team sport, and partnerships like this are needed to achieve zero emissions, especially because we know that affordable and easily accessible charging infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges for drivers,” he says.
Currently, bp has 22,000 charging points worldwide and operates in ten countries.
The company is investing billions in electric vehicle infrastructure and is installing hundreds of charging points each week. Its ambition is to have more than 100,000 charging points worldwide by 2030.
This investment addresses the concerns of collective transportation drivers, identified in a recent survey of 16,000 Uber platform drivers, by providing them with the reliable and convenient recharging infrastructure they need to feel confident about transitioning to electricity.
The partnership builds on Uber’s initiatives to help drivers switch to electricity, including adding a charging map directly to the driver app to show them the nearest EV chargers, as well as launching an EV Hub in the Uber driver app, a one-stop-shop where drivers can get information and compare the total cost of ownership (TCO) of an EV with a non-EV.
According to the agreement’s terms, bp intends to offer drivers tailored offers on the Uber platform that suit each market, including incentives for using bp pulse for charging. bp has a global network of nearly 21,000 branded retail sites offering fuel, as well as food for now and for later with retail partners, and facilities such as restrooms.
