Seattle (TAN): San-Francisco based cab-hailing company Lyft has launched “Green Mode” on its app so that environmentally conscious riders can request electric vehicles or hybrids instead of gasoline-driven ones.
Lyft started its new journey in Seattle, the capital of Washington state in the United States. Although the company plans to expand to California and other parts of the country, Forbes quoted Lyft’s Chief Operating Officer Jon McNeill as saying “it was number one on the mind of Seattle drivers and riders”.
Going green
The company wrote on its blog that it will “work to introduce thousands of electric vehicles (EVs)” onto their platform in 2019, making it “easier for riders to request them through Green Mode.”
Lyft also said: “These efforts will provide cleaner transportation options for Lyft riders, and increase net earnings for our driver community. Once adopted widely, EVs hold the promise of making cities more livable by dramatically reducing air pollution.”
EVs on Express Drive programme
In a bid to inspire more drivers to switch to green vehicles, Lyft will introduce EVs to its Express Drive programme in which drivers can rent a car to drive for the company. These drivers will now be able to rent EVs, and use unlimited charging included in the weekly rental rate for the time being.
“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,” the company said.
Express Drive EV will first be available in Seattle and Atlanta, and later in other markets.
Better future
Lyft saidthe Green Mode effort “will reduce the amount of emissions created by vehicles on the Lyft platform”. The company added that keeping with the commitment they had made last year: “All EV charging will be covered by 100 per cent renewable electricity.”
Lyft also launched Lyft Scooters programme last year, which is presently available in nine cities.
