Uber ends seven-year London EV driver funding scheme with final lump-sum payment offer
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Uber has confirmed it is bringing its London EV Assistance programme to an end, marking the close of one of the company’s key financial incentives designed to encourage private hire drivers to switch to fully electric vehicles.
The ride-hailing platform said the scheme, introduced in 2019, had achieved its primary objective of supporting “tens of thousands” of drivers with the transition to electric vehicles while reducing rental and ownership costs. The company now says that most of the available funding has been distributed.
Drivers who still have EV Assistance remaining will no longer receive monthly payments. Instead, Uber will convert any remaining entitlement into a single upfront lump-sum payment, provided they meet the programme’s final eligibility requirements.
To qualify, drivers must complete 150 trips in a fully electric vehicle within an eight-week period by 31 August 2026. The final lump-sum payments will then be processed automatically on 10 September 2026.
Drivers who are not currently using an electric vehicle but intend to switch can still qualify by moving to a fully electric vehicle and completing the required number of trips before the deadline. However, drivers who do not switch to an EV or fail to meet the trip requirement will lose access to any remaining EV Assistance funding. Uber said those funds will instead be redirected towards future initiatives aimed at encouraging drivers to adopt electric vehicles.
The announcement represents the end of a significant chapter in Uber’s electrification strategy in London. The EV Assistance programme formed part of a wider package of measures funded through Uber’s Clean Air Plan, which was introduced following the launch of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone. The initiative helped offset the higher upfront costs associated with electric vehicle ownership and leasing at a time when charging infrastructure and vehicle availability were still developing.
London’s private hire fleet has evolved over the past seven years. Electric vehicle availability has increased substantially, while leasing options, government support and manufacturer incentives have improved. At the same time, Transport for London (TfL) has progressively tightened emissions standards for newly licensed private hire vehicles, accelerating the shift away from petrol and diesel models.
For drivers who have yet to make the transition, the announcement removes one of the most direct financial incentives available through Uber. While the company has indicated that unused funding will be invested in future EV initiatives, it has not outlined what those schemes will involve or when they may be introduced.
In a message to drivers, Uber thanked those who had already made the switch to electric vehicles, saying they had helped lead the move towards cleaner transport across London. The company added that it was “incredibly proud” to have partnered with drivers throughout the programme since its launch in 2019.
