Ride-hailing company Uber has debuted its pilot programme of providing rides in electric vehicles in India, the media has reported. The pilot offering green mobility to customers has kicked off in some parts of the Delhi-NCR with services rolling out in more cities in the coming months.
However, Uber did not mention how many green cabs are currently part of its fleet of cabs operational in the country, according to the report.
"We have begun offering riders the choice of an electric vehicle on pre-scheduled trips under the 'Reserve' feature on the Uber app. Uber Electric remains limited to parts of Delhi NCR currently. As the leading mobility app in India, we are committed to supporting the Indian government’s emission goals," an Uber spokesperson told ABP Live.
"Expect to see more electric vehicles - be they two, three or four-wheeled - across Indian cities in the coming months," the Uber spokesperson added.
As India pushes ride-hailing companies to electrify their fleets over the next few years, Uber's move comes at a timely moment, the report noted. The push came amid the Centre's pledge to reduce oil import dependence and cut air pollution to meet its commitment to the 2015 Paris climate change accord, it added.
Meanwhile, the state government in Delhi, for instance, says it has installed 1,000 EV charging points across the city.
Meanwhile, earlier in August, Uber started allowing riders to book a cab via WhatsApp. The new feature is aimed at saving passengers the trouble of downloading the Uber app, registering first, and then being able to book a cab, auto, or bike. Uber said that it recognises that to keep expanding its services, the platform needs to meet users where they are.
“In India, that means WhatsApp,” Uber had said in a press release. “Starting this week, we are rolling out an exciting new service that gives people of Delhi NCR the option to book an Uber ride via our official chatbot on WhatsApp,” the company had said.
The Uber-WhatsApp integrator was first rolled out in Lucknow back in December 2021. The chatbot can be used in both English and Hindi seamlessly, whichever the rider is more comfortable in. The WhatsApp chatbot will also share ride receipts with users after a trip is completed.