Mobility company, Lyft is re-launching a feature that allows riders to request an electric or hybrid vehicle for their next pickup.
When it launches on April 17, Lyft Green will initially be available only to business travellers in select cities.
Lyft Green was first introduced in Seattle in 2019 with plans to expand to other cities, but it was discontinued in 2021.
According to a Lyft spokesperson, the service was “initially a bit ahead of its time” and didn’t see much demand.
The relaunch comes just a week after Uber expanded its Comfort Electric option to 14 new cities, allowing riders to select a luxury electric vehicle such as a Tesla or Audi.
Lyft Green is in line with the ride-hailing company’s goal of reaching 100% electric vehicles on its platform by 2030, a goal fueled in part by California’s 2021 mandate that all ride-hailing trips be completed in EVs by that year.
Lyft introduced options to help drivers switch to EVs in December, including charging discounts and expanded EV inventory for the company’s Express Drive rental programme.
In addition, the company offered California drivers an extra $150 per week if they provided 50 rides in their personal EVs by the end of 2024.
According to a Lyft spokesperson, Lyft Green rides cost $1 more than standard rides, with the difference split between the driver and Lyft.
To encourage drivers to switch to EVs, Uber has been offering $1 per trip completed with an EV, with a cap of $4,000, and works with rental companies to provide discounts on EVs.
Lyft Green is currently available in Portland and will soon be available in San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Boston, New York City, Chicago, San Diego, Washington, D.C., Austin, Denver, Orange County, Sacramento, and Phoenix, among other cities. As the company improves the service, it expects to expand it beyond business travellers.
