New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced this week that all Uber and Lyft rides in the city will have to be made in electric vehicles starting in 2030. The decision has the potential to impact around 100,000 vehicles in one of the world’s largest markets for ride-hailing apps.
Uber and Lyft, which have been known to sue legislators who attempt to introduce new rules they do not care for, were largely positive about the announcement, reports The Verge. Both released statements praising the city’s new measure.
“We applaud the Mayor’s ambition for reducing emissions, an important goal we share,” said Josh Gold, Uber’s senior director of policy. “Uber has been making real progress to become the first zero-emissions mobility platform in North America, and there’s much more to do.”
Read: Uber Won’t Allow ICE-Powered Cars On Its Platform From 2030
Lyft’s director of sustainability, Paul Augustine, wrote, meanwhile, that the company will be working with the city on the journey towards emissions-free ride-hailing.
“We are excited to partner with New York City on our journey,” said Augustine. “New York’s commitment will accelerate an equitable city-wide transition to electric, and we’re eager to collaborate with the TLC on an ambitious plan for a rideshare clean mile standard.”
The overall positivity likely comes from the fact that both start-ups have previously announced that they plan to only allow zero-emissions vehicles on their apps by 2030. Uber is working with companies like Hertz to offer drivers access to more electric vehicles.
New York City’s new rules will likely be implemented through its Taxi and Limousine Commission, which regulates for-hire vehicles, including those working for Uber and Lyft. Adams said that this move builds on the city’s efforts to electrify its fleet and add charging infrastructure to power those vehicles.
Mayor Eric Adams won’t be alone in mandating that all Uber and Lyft rides be executed with zero-emissions vehicles, though. The state of California adopted new rules in 2021 that requires the companies to electrify their entire fleets by 2030. Both it and New York state plan to ban the sale of new gas engine vehicles a few years later, in 2035.
