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You'll soon be able to book Uber Green electric car rides without a surcharge

April 21, 2022
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3 min read
Uber Earth Day_Los Angeles
You'll soon be able to book Uber Green electric car rides without a surcharge
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Doubling down on its existing efforts to transition drivers to electric vehicles by 2025, Uber will allow riders to book Uber Green rides for the same price as an UberX beginning Friday, the ride-hailing service told TPG under embargo ahead of its public announcement Thursday.

(Photo courtesy of Uber)

Starting on Earth Day, April 22, Uber users can take an EV Uber, also known as Uber Green, for the price of an UberX, effectively eliminating the existing $1 surcharge Uber has levied since introducing Uber Green rides.

Also this week, riders can participate in Earth Week-themed promotions while also saving money on Earth-friendly rides, including:

  • $1 off each Uber Green, Lime E-Bike and Lime E-Scooter ride taken April 21-30, by entering promo code "GoGreen22" in the Uber app.
  • All users can also elect to take a green route for all trips, regardless of the type of vehicle booked.

Some users requesting an Uber Green in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., or Miami may also get to see a show during the ride.

"Uber is surprising lucky Uber Green riders with a customized electric vehicle outfitted with an exciting external green wrapper, and equipped with hi-res interior screens inside that will take riders to some of Earth’s most beautiful places, such as the Arctic, the Serengeti, or the Great Barrier Reef," a spokesperson for the company said.

(Photo courtesy of Uber)

In announcing its $800 million pledge in 2020 to reach zero emissions globally by 2040, Uber introduced its Green Future Program, which, among other environmental initiatives, includes Uber Green.

Touted as a "new low-emission ride option," Uber Green gives riders the chance to book Uber rides via an electric or hybrid vehicle for just $1 more than the price of an UberX, prior to today's price match announcement.

Just over a month ago, both Uber and Lyft announced they were adding a temporary surcharge to all rides to reflect the price of gas.

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Uber Green is a major effort behind the company's intention to fully transition hundreds of thousands of Uber drivers to using battery electric vehicles by 2025 across the United States, Canada and Europe.

Currently, North American-based drivers are also eligible to earn an extra $1 on every Uber trip taken in a fully electric vehicle.

As of September, Uber Green has expanded to 100 major urban markets, "making it the most widely available on-demand mobility solution in the world for no- or low-emission rides," according to an Uber spokesperson.

In the past year, Uber has doubled its use of zero-emissions vehicles on its platform, with an average of nearly 6,000 monthly active ZEV drivers across all Uber markets, according to data shared by the company.

Related: Uber and Lyft add fuel surcharge amid rising gas prices

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.