Uber drivers looking to conduct business in a battery-electric vehicle now have an easier method for doing so. The rideshare outfit is partnering with mobility firm Autzu, which rents Tesla Model 3 EVs by the hour, the companies announced Wednesday.
While rideshare drivers have always been able to rent an EV through Autzu, this new partnership makes it more efficient for those working through Uber.
“With our new software and the integration with Uber, we’re able to scale very quickly,” said Autzu CEO John Gabriel in an interview. “Uber is also helping us with the marketing. They have something called vehicle solution platform for new drivers and they direct drivers that are looking for a vehicle to us, essentially.”
Rentals cost $7 an hour for a maximum of 16 hours each day. Drivers book their rentals by connecting their Uber account to the Autzu mobile app. Autzu covers all costs and offers cut-rate charging rates.
“Drivers tell us one of the biggest barriers they face when switching to electric is vehicle access,” said Amit Kulkarni, Head of Vehicle Rentals at Uber in a statement. “Through partnerships like this, we’re able to help address barriers to EV adoption and offer drivers on the Uber platform flexible options to suit their needs while helping further our efforts to become a zero tail-pipe emissions mobility platform.”
“Getting one rideshare car, transforming that into electric, will save as much emissions as converting 10, maybe 12, regular or privately owned vehicles,” Gabriel added.
The new arrangement is rolling out first in San Francisco but Autzu plans to expand its Uber partnership to other cities such as Los Angeles and others on the east coast including New York City, where it had suspended operations during the Covid pandemic, according to Gabriel.
The Autzu fleet in San Francisco will number about 50 Tesla Model 3’s by the end of this quarter, but Gabriel says the company looks to expand its overall inventory to as many as “thousands of vehicles” depending on demand from Uber drivers in its various markets.
Teslas are Autzu’s brand of choice right now, mainly due to its network of superchargers and availability, but Gabriel says other brands could be considered.
“We are open to any type of vehicle that works,” Gabriel said. “We’re looking to have whatever is the best for the drivers, whatever is the best for the city.”
Drivers who work for other rideshare operators are welcome to rent through Autzu, but they also have other choices, as do Uber drivers from rental car companies such as Hertz, Avis and Flexdrive.
In most cases drivers must meet certain criteria to qualify to rent an EV such as a minimum number of trips and strong driver ratings. Daily rates are around $330 per week.
Drivers can pick up their Autzu rentals at a number of hubs in each city located near public transportation. They can also drive their own vehicle to the hub and leave it there while working, Gabriel pointed out.
Autzu’s John Gabriel says his company’s goal is to get as many internal combustion-ICE- vehicles off the road as possible by providing a convenient and economical way for rideshare drivers to convert to EVs, at least while they’re on the job.
Gabriel says that’s also a key goal of its new partnership, noting, “We’re kind of getting really close, working together with Uber just to make sure that there are more electric vehicles out there and less ICE vehicles and better solutions.”
