How green is your transport? Uber to rate your rides

Uber has revealed more than 4000 electric cars, including BYD models, are in its fleet. (HANDOUT/UBER)

Uber will soon score you on more than just conversational skills, also taking into account the environmental credentials of the cars you hail. 

The tech giant revealed plans on Tuesday to launch a feature giving riders a glimpse into the carbon emissions they save by choosing electric and hybrid cars rather than petrol or diesel vehicles. 

The rating, which will be shown in user accounts, will also translate greenhouse gas savings into real-world equivalents such as garbage kept out of landfill or litres of fuel saved. 

The launch comes weeks after the federal government passed Australia's first fuel-efficiency standard into law in a move expected to bring more EVs into the country, and almost six months after Uber started its first dedicated electric vehicle service in Australia.

Uber Australia and New Zealand sustainability head Anna Brito said the new feature, called Rider Emissions Savings, would be rolled out in countries with electric vehicle options as a way to demonstrate the impact of choosing to ride in low-emission vehicles. 

"We wanted something that could help people to not only understand the choices that they can make with their transportation to reduce emissions but also to help incentivise and motivate people," she said.

"Maybe saying kilograms of CO2 saved doesn't mean much to people but if you say that's the equivalent of 20 litres of petrol saved or 50 kilos of garbage diverted from landfill, you start to see the impact of your actions."

Ms Brito told AAP the estimates were calculated by using the average carbon emissions from Uber's Green or Comfort Electric services and multiplying them by kilometres travelled. 

Early results showed Victorian riders had made the greatest emissions savings on the Uber platform so far, followed by Western Australia, Queensland, NSW, and South Australia. 

Uber also revealed it had more than 4000 electric vehicles in its driver fleet, and Australians had taken 1.86 million rides in an electric vehicle between January and March this year.

"We're now doing more than 20,000 zero-emission rides each day across our platform and I think it's showing that drivers are hungry for this and they've been switching to EVs at quite a fast pace," Ms Brito said.

"It's also resonating with riders."

Uber has previously partnered with electric vehicle brands and finance firms, including BYD and Splend, to encourage drivers to adopt the technology, and last week teamed with BP Pulse to offer discounted car-charging rates.

The Electric Vehicle Council estimates there are more than 180,000 electric cars on Australian roads, including more than 98,000 new EVs purchased last year. 

However, experts predict their numbers will grow substantially in 2025 after the federal government introduces the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard that will set emissions limits on passenger and commercial vehicle fleets. 

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store