Nissan supports Uber’s commitment to tackle air pollution in London, UK, by supplying a fleet of 20 Leafs.
The electric vehicles will be used by the ride-sharing company in England’s capital as part of a trial, run in partnership with Energy Savings Trust (EST), which is looking the feasibility of running electric private hire vehicles in the United Kingdom.
“We are delighted to be working closely with Uber on what is a very exciting project that could ultimately lead to major improvements in air quality in London and across the UK“, said Nissan Europe’s Head of Electric Vehicles, Gareth Dunsmore. “With the impact of poor air quality remaining a cause for concern, the trial could prove to be a pivotal moment for tackling the challenges in London.“
With running costs as low as two pence ($0.03) per mile in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), the Nissan Leaf electric vehicles will be an important pillar in EST’s research of the driving patterns, experience and economics of private hire drivers, while also testing London’s network of charging points capacity to support them.
Approximately 60 percent of all Uber journeys are made in hybrid cars in London, a sign that residents and tourists turning to the car sharing company have embraced greener vehicles. Now Uber wants to explore the environmental and economic benefits of going fully electric ahead of the introduction of London’s Ultra Low Emissions Zone in 2020.
“We are determined to use technology to help tackle the challenge of air pollution in London and across the UK”, said Jo Bertram, Regional General Manager of Uber in the UK. “Our car-sharing service has already saved 1.2 million miles and 211 metric tonnes of CO2. With electric vehicles – and more people sharing their journey and leaving their own cars at home – there’s even more we can do.”
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