New ‘Battery-Aware’ feature will match Uber users based on vehicle charge levels and length of ride
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has announced plans for new smart in app charging features to make it simpler for drivers to charge their vehicles.
Ride-hailing giants Uber are taking steps to switch to electric vehicles and aim to have all its cars in London wholly electric by 2025.
According to Khosrowshahi, the cost of electric vehicles isn't the only obstacle drivers face, making charging too complicated is another significant barrier. Charging an EV can often be stressful for drivers, who have to worry about how to charge and when to charge without affecting their earnings.
To tackle this problem, Uber is investing $800 million in resources to support drivers, including developing smart charging features like Battery-Aware Matching, which will help filter trip requests based on the driver's battery level, so they can take trips that end near a charger and avoid trips that are too long for their battery.
In addition to this feature, Uber is using real-time signals such as charging prices, charging time, and traffic to recommend when and where drivers should charge to maximise their earnings while on the road and when planning ahead.
Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber CEO, said: “Helping drivers go electric as fast as possible is at the heart of our strategy, and we’re devoting $800 million in resources to support them. But as drivers tell us, the cost of electric vehicles is not the only barrier they face.
“One big barrier is that charging an EV can feel too complicated. From worrying about when and where to charge so they don’t miss out on peak earnings to range anxiety, drivers are juggling a lot.
“That’s why we’re building smart charging features into the Uber Driver app. Uber’s technology will assess real-time signals such as charging prices, charging time, and traffic to recommend when and where drivers should charge, so they can maximize their earnings while on the road and when planning ahead.
“We’re also developing Battery-Aware Matching, which filters trip requests based on a driver’s battery level, so they can take trips that end near a charger and avoid trips that are too long for their battery. Charging should be seamless, not stressful.”
