Lyft Embraces Electric Vehicles
People in Seattle can request an electric vehicle using ‘Green Mode’.
LYFT USERS IN SEATTLE can now request an electric vehicle when they order a car – an option the popular ride-sharing company eventually plans to extend to other U.S. cities as well.
The environmentally-friendly concept is part of Lyft’s larger Green Cities Initiative, under which the company has committed to becoming carbon neutral and using 100 percent renewable energy.
To request a hybrid or electric vehicle, customers can choose a “Green Mode” option on the Lyft app, Lyft announced last week.
Lyft outlined the importance of electric vehicles in a blog post, noting how they produce less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of comparable gasoline-powered vehicles over their lifespan.
The new Green Mode is also beneficial to drivers, according to the company. Electric vehicles significantly lower fuel costs, Lyft said, meaning more earning potential for each trip. The company says drivers in Seattle can rent an electric vehicle through its Express Drive program, which drivers can use to rent a vehicle if they don’t own one. This electric vehicle rental option will expand to other cities throughout the year.
All charging of the vehicles will use 100 percent renewable electricity, and Lyft adds that drivers who rent an electric vehicle will receive unlimited charging as part of the initial launch.
“Combining lower fuel costs with affordable rental rates, we anticipate that individual drivers can save hundreds of dollars per month, and thousands of dollars per year, on fuel costs alone,” Lyft said on its site.
In addition to this new electric vehicle push, Lyft has already enacted a number of efforts to reduce its carbon footprint over the past year through the Green Cities Initiative.
In 2018, Lyft became one of the top voluntary purchasers of carbon offsets in the world. The company said it offset over a million metric tons of carbon last year.
Lyft has also started to roll out its Lyft Bikes and Scooters program, which provides a convenient way for commuters to access public transportation centers that aren’t walkable.
Source: usnews
