Uber Gets Its Own EVs That Are Comfort-First, Convenient & Greener
With the UK aiming to go electric by the end of the decade, ride-hailing service Uber is also pivoting toward change, with a partnership with local electric mobility company Arrival.
Dubbed the Arrival Car, this new EV was developed specifically for the ride-hailing industry. Designed with both driver and passenger in mind, Arrival states that the car was made with “urban environments where most ride-hailing mileage occurs.”
Arrival, alongside Uber, took just half a year to develop the car, according to a press release by the former. It builds upon the company’s existing portfolio of vehicles, which includes a van and bus.
“Electrifying ride-hailing will play a crucial role in reducing the emissions of vehicles in cities globally, providing a sustainable, clean multi-modal transportation system for communities,” explains Tom Elvidge, EVP of Vehicle Platforms at Arrival.
“We are keen on supporting drivers with this transition by developing the best possible product for ride-hailing that elevates the experience for both them and their passengers, making urban air clean in the process.”
According to the firm, an average ride-hailing car will traverse almost four times the distance that a regular car might, looking at somewhere between 45,000–50,000km (27,962–31,069 miles) per year as compared to a typical 12,000km (7456 miles).
To accommodate this, Arrival has prioritized elements like “cost, uptime, driver comfort, safety, and convenience.”
One of the design tweaks, for example, is that the Arrival Car boasts a huge legroom—twice that of an average car of the same length. New Atlas also notes that even more space can be created by folding down the passenger seat and pushing it further up, toward the dashboard.
Instead of physical controls, most of the car’s functions will be accessible through a touchscreen panel in the center of the dashboard, saving precious space. As the system was designed with ride-hailing in mind, the display will also host information like navigation, driver ID, and vehicle status, among other things.
According to Jamie Heywood, Uber’s Regional General Manager for Northern and Eastern Europe, drivers at the company are making the switch to EVs at “a much faster rate” than the general market.
This is in line with the firm’s goal to ensure that all the Uber cars in London will be electric by the time 2025 rolls around.
Testing of the Arrival Car has just begun, and this is just the first look. Who knows what exciting news will follow?
For every @Uber driver to switch to electric in the UK, they're going to need a vehicle that fits their needs. Introducing the Arrival Car. Designed with Uber drivers, for Uber drivers.
— Arrival (@arrival) December 14, 2021
The future of ride-hailing #PoweredbyArrival
SEE MORE: https://t.co/Zrf1J2qRXA pic.twitter.com/BPRAF7k6Hp
By 2025, every @Uber in London will be electric. We have designed the Arrival Car so every driver can make the switch.âš¡ï¸
— Arrival (@arrival) December 13, 2021
Dropping tomorrow: a glance into the design process. pic.twitter.com/SYFfOkjkqj
