Nearly half of all rides on FREENOW powered by electric taxis and PHVs
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
FREENOW has reported major strides in electrifying urban transport across Europe, with nearly half of all rides now taken in electrified vehicles. The multi-mobility platform, which has its roots in the taxi sector, is working with city authorities, vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure providers to help accelerate the shift away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
In its latest sustainability report, FREENOW confirmed that 47% of all rides in 2024 were completed using either partially or fully electrified taxis or private hire vehicles. The platform also revealed that 55% of business rides and 74% of shared vehicle journeys used electrified options.
Electrification efforts vary across markets. Hamburg, Dublin and London are among the leading cities, with Hamburg reporting that fully electric vehicles now make up 25% of the local FREENOW fleet, responsible for 43% of all rides in the city. In Ireland, driver incentives, including discounts on Tesla vehicles and support from the National Transport Authority, have supported uptake, particularly in Dublin.
In the UK, more than 230 FREENOW drivers have already benefitted from discounted access to public and home EV charging through partnerships with bp pulse and OVO. However, in cities like Brighton and Edinburgh, adoption remains slow, hindered by limited vehicle availability and infrastructure constraints.
Greece remains at the early stages of its transition, with just 0.7% of taxis in Athens fully electric. In response, FREENOW and partners launched the ZAP Taxi Club in 2024, a scheme providing trade-in options, financing and access to charging.
Across the wider platform, 64% of new vehicles added in 2024 were electrified, with the total CO2e saving from shared electric vehicles estimated at 2,386 tonnes. Despite this progress, full electrification remains difficult in several European markets, where barriers such as high costs and charging gaps persist.
To maintain momentum, FREENOW is calling for stronger regulatory support, more urban fast-charging points, and tailored financial incentives to help drivers make the switch.
Within the report FREENOW says it will continue to collaborate with policymakers, businesses and local operators to integrate electrified mobility into urban transport networks, reinforcing the role of taxis in cleaner, more efficient cities.
