Uber partners with Austin Energy to expand electric vehicle initiative

Electric vehicles are getting a new boost in visibility within the city now that Uber is working with Austin officials on the city’s Smart Mobility Roadmap and bringing its electric vehicle pilot program to town. Uber will now provide information in their drivers’ newsfeed about Austin Energy’s Plug-In EVerywhere network of charging stations available throughout the city. Uber passengers too can participate and will receive a notification when they are paired with an electric vehicle. After a rider has taken a trip in an EV, they will receive an email containing additional information on the pilot program. Feedback about drivers and charging stations’ statuses will be shared from the app with Austin Energy. Austin is one of seven cities participating in the pilot program, along with Los Angeles, Montreal, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. Although Uber is partnering with Austin Energy to help expand the electric vehicle initiative, they are not making any infrastructure investments in the DC Fast charging stations that Austin is looking to acquire.