Environmentally conscious Uber drivers who want to monitor their carbon footprint can now find out how much carbon dioxide emissions are avoided when they take a ride in one of the company’s electric or hybrid vehicles.
In a bid to improve its environmental credentials, Uber announced Monday that it has launched a new “Emissions Savings” feature on its ride-sharing app, allowing riders around the world to track and learn more about their impact on carbon emissions experience.
“Just as we popularized rider reviews to encourage respectful behavior on Uber rides, we’re excited to introduce this new feature to both celebrate your impact and encourage greener choices when using Uber,” Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in a message announcing the update.
To use the new feature, simply dive into the Account section of the Uber app and tap Estimated CO2 savings to see the emissions you’ve saved by riding in an Uber Green or Uber Comfort Electric vehicle.
To help you better understand the data, you’ll also see a graph showing what your carbon emissions savings compare to.
Uber announced that it will include additional products in the calculation of its emissions savings in the future, including rides with UberX Share and rides with e-bikes and e-scooters booked through the Uber app.
“Today marks an important step in our journey to inform drivers about the estimated emissions saved and the positive impact they are having in their communities,” said Khosrowshahi.
In a November update to its climate assessment and performance report, Uber said there were 74,000 zero-emission vehicles in use in the U.S., Canada and Europe in the third quarter, nearly double the number a year ago, although in the U.S. and Canada only 6.5% of Uber rides are made in such vehicles.
One of the goals of ride-sharing services like Uber is to reduce pollution by reducing car ownership. However, some studies suggest that the abundance of ride-sharing services may ultimately lead to congestion and pollution in major cities. Four years ago, the San Francisco-headquartered company set a goal of being a zero-emissions platform in the U.S., Canada and European cities by 2030. A faster transition to electric and hybrid vehicles would certainly help reduce one’s carbon footprint.
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