Uber customers who have enrolled for Uber One can now choose from the cab-hailing service’s Comfort Electric product, a fully electric ride. In an exciting move, Uber partnered with Kia Australia to provide complimentary rides with its EVs to and from the Melbourne tennis precinct until January 28.
From February, Uber’s Comfort Electric goes national across Australia. Over the past few months, Uber has increased the number of electric vehicles on its platform.
This initiative is to “help more Australians discover the comfort, quiet, and convenience of Comfort Electric,” says the cab-hailing company.
Speaking of more comfort, the Australian Open has been extended to a 15-day feast of the world’s best tennis this year. This is an attempt to reduce the number of late finishes, and it gets even better when you can drive in an Uber EV.
How does Comfort Electric work?
Uber One members can access complimentary rides, which are capped at AUD 100. The ride will be from the backseat of Kia’s newly launched EV9 vehicles alongside their critically acclaimed EV6 vehicles.
The partnership between Uber and Kia includes 30 EVs, which will be driven up and down the precinct to help Australian tennis fans commute.
What is Uber One?
Uber One is a subscription option with Uber. This allows customers to save on Uber and Uber Eats.
Uber One in Australia offers:
- Zero delivery fee and reduced service fee (up to 30% off) on Uber Eats.
- Save on Uber – 5% credit on all rides.
- Special offers on Uber and Uber Eats, and exclusive offers from Uber partners.
Kia’s EV9 and EV6 vehicles
The electric vehicle (EV) range from Kia has some great features. The 7-seat EV9 is all-impressive with interior technology:
- Digital side mirrors.
- Integrated panoramic display.
- Digital center mirror.
- Dual colored ambient mood lighting.
Kia’s EV6 is a stylish crossover SUV. The car has a sporty look. But nothing is as sporty as being able to hit the road after a fast charge – 10% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes.
Features in this cutting-edge technology metal machine include:
- Bold exterior.
- Curved LED trail light.
- The 77.4KwH battery provides an excellent driving range.
Top Gear rates the Kia EV6 as follows: “Kia proving that forward-thinking doesn’t need to be entirely wacky. An extremely attractive package that makes a lot of more premium manufacturers look at least two steps behind.”
Greener goals for Uber
Uber aims to be a zero-emissions platform in Australia in the next 17 years (2040). Investments in greener trips and cars have already lined up to help achieve this goal. It also strives towards making all its rides take place in zero-emission vehicles, on public transport, or with bikes and scooters.
The company has invested $26 million into Australia’s electric vehicle market. By next year, it hopes to get more drivers to use EVs through its Green Future program. “[By 2030] 80% of restaurant orders with Uber Eats across European and Asia Pacific cities are transitioned from single-use plastics to reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging options,” states the company.
Why go electric?
There are many great benefits to going electrical. These include:
- Fuel saving: Cost of Diesel and petrol are higher than running an electric-powered car.
- Better for the environment – EVs help reduce emissions, keeping a city’s air cleaner.
- The ultimate ride – EVs are easy to maintain and offer a smooth ride.
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About the author
Sharl is a qualified journalist. He has over 10 years’ experience in the media industry, including positions as an editor of a magazine and Business Editor of a daily newspaper. Sharl also has experience in logistics specifically operations, where he worked with global food aid organisations distributing food into Africa. Sharl enjoys writing business stories and human interest pieces.
Mia is a multi-award-winning journalist. She has more than 14 years of experience in mainstream media. She's covered many historic moments that happened in Africa and internationally. She has a strong focus on human interest stories, to bring her readers and viewers closer to the topics at hand.
