India Orders Uber and Rival Ola To Electrify 40% of Fleets By 2026 (techcrunch.com) 76
India is doubling down on its push to replace gasoline and diesel vehicles on its streets with environmentally friendly electric cars. From a report: The government plans to order ride-hailing firms such as Uber and Ola, that operate hundreds of thousands of cars in the nation, to convert 40% of their fleets to electric by April 2026, Reuters reported today. As part of the push, Uber, Ola and other companies would need to show signs of progress towards the goal by the end of next year, the report claimed. It stated that the ride-hailing giants must convert 2.5% of their fleet of cars by 2021, 5% by 2022, and 10% by 2023. A source familiar with the matter corroborated Reuters' findings to TechCrunch. The move comes as New Delhi looks to cut reliance on oil imports and bring down air pollution to abide by its commitment as part of the 2015 Paris climate change treaty. In recent years, China has also ramped up similar efforts with even tougher EV sales targets matched with generous state-funded subsidies for consumers buying green vehicles.
Electrify? (Score:3)
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Eject, no, passengers, no, but mostly the right idea [youtu.be].
What are the options. (Score:2)
Electric Cars in the US, is currently a small selection of cars. Expensive Testla's or tiny cars like the Leaf, and one "Mid Size" (well still kinda small) Chevy Bold.
Granted this is much bigger selection that was available 10 years ago. But most of these cars don't seem like a good Ride Hailing type of car.
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China makes and sells the most EVs. They will have plenty available for India.
Re:What are the options. (Score:4, Insightful)
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In general in the US, there just isn't much of a demand for them.
I think perhaps people might consider them as a 2nd car, but first car they buy will be used for long trips, hauling stuff and people around, towing boats, etc....
The EV might be great now for the often shorter daily commutes to wor
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Why do people with high density houses have no where to charge? I live in an apartment in high density housing and several of my neighbours own electric cars. You can see them outside plugged into the street except for the one weirdo who paid for a parking spot, he's got his car plugged into the wall in the parking spot.
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This is one that California should lead the way on. I'm sure people will be happy trying to charge their cars around the planned brownouts
Most EV owners in California already do that. California utilities offer discounts for off-peak charging.
My wife's Tesla is programmed to charge from 2am to 4am, and we pay 6 cents / kwhr during that time window, half the normal rate. We also run our dishwasher during that time window, since it has a built-in delay feature.
While You Were Sleeping... (Score:2)
We also run our dishwasher during that time window, since it has a built-in delay feature.
Cool; but just be aware that with such electronic complexity these days and the "who knows where it was designed/made" of 2019, they can catch on fire [lmgtfy.com] as did my parents' 4-year old model did this year. (Funny, their electromechanical one lasted decades, before the irreplaceable racks rusted.)
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When they talk electric cars in India, aren't they talking hybrids? B'cos I've never seen any charging stations anywhere in India, so 40% seems like a pipe dream
That said, given the pollution levels in all their major cities, it is a welcome first step. Other thing they need to do on a major scale is replace their coal and oil based electricity w/ nuclear power wherever they can. Since their expanding population does need energy to avoid major problems
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They're there, you just need some pliers, some wire cutters, and an expanded definition of "charging station" [youtu.be] (~ 1m20s).
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Luggage (Score:2)
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I hope there won't be many riders requiring space for luggage.
Obvious solution: Specify a larger car at the time you make your request, with the understanding that you will pay a bit more.
This isn't a new problem, since there are plenty of small gas cars as well, especially in India: Tata Nano [google.com].
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According to the Wikipedia article on the Nano:
" In 2018, Cyrus Mistry, Former Chairmen of the Tata Group, called the Tata Nano a failed project, with production ending in May 2018."
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Interesting Relationship (Score:4, Insightful)
Overall this good. Cleaner cars will help air pollution in dense population centers.
But, what is the relationship between Uber and it's drivers in India? I thought the drivers are supposed to be independent contractors. Therefore, can Uber demand drivers buy new cars?
Uber doesn't own the cars. Either they only hire contractors with electric cars or offer an incentive? It could be a scheduling incentive -- electric cars get the notification of a new ride first or a premium fare?!
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Therefore, can Uber demand drivers buy new cars?
They don't need to "demand".
They can just compensate EV drivers a bit more, creating an incentive for EV owners to sign up as drivers, and for existing drivers to upgrade to an EV when they are ready to buy a new car.
In India, it is common for several Uber drivers to share a single car, driving it in shifts. So the higher cost of an EV can be spread out.
They will need better charging infrastructure, so drivers can top-up during idle times while waiting for their next fare.
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But, what is the relationship between Uber and it's drivers in India? I thought the drivers are supposed to be independent contractors. Therefore, can Uber demand drivers buy new cars?
No, but they can drop all drivers who don't have EVs from their service, and only hire drivers who do, which has the same result. Welcome to capitalism. Can I take your coat, please? Brought to you by Carl's Jr.
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But, what is the relationship between Uber and it's drivers in India? I thought the drivers are supposed to be independent contractors. Therefore, can Uber demand drivers buy new cars?
Uber doesn't own the cars. Either they only hire contractors with electric cars or offer an incentive?
That was my first thought. In the U.S. their position has been that they're not a cab company, not really even a transportation company, they're a communication company. It's been bullshit almost from the beginning, but I haven't heard how the argument has gone in other countries.
Also, how will they enforce it? The app will know what the driver says they're driving, but unless they somehow plug into the car they won't really know.
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Also, how will they enforce it? The app will know what the driver says they're driving, but unless they somehow plug into the car they won't really know.
Uber has another data channel: Riders.
The app tells the rider what kind of car the driver is driving, so they can find it to get in. If the driver claims to be driving one sort of car but actually drives another the riders are going to be confused, leading to lower rider satisfaction and perhaps even some complaints to Uber.
Tata (Score:1)
I thought Tata was going to be manufacturing air powered cars. Will those count?
Energy Security (Score:1)
India does not have significant oil reserves. While it's sold as environmentally friendly, this is 100% about reducing energy dependence on VLCCs, which are horribly vulnerable to both Chinese economic warfare and their navy.
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this is 100% about reducing energy dependence on VLCCs, which are horribly vulnerable to both Chinese economic warfare and their navy.
There are also national security issues. In a conflict with Pakistan, they could face an oil embargo and/or a Chinese naval blockade, at the worst possible time.
India has a huge incentive to cut their dependence on imported oil.
Too bad their domestic energy production is so filthy: 75% from coal.
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On this one, India needs to manufacture more of its own cars, be it electric or gas powered or hybrid. As it is, they were forced to take Iranian oil offline, and they can't easily get oil from Russia or the stans since Pakistan, China and Afghanistan come in b/w, plus their major cities have dire pollution issues. So it makes sense for them to try and accelerate the push towards cars that don't use gasoline
Force uber to pay for the new cars! (Score:2)
Force uber to pay for the new cars!
Normal taxis (Score:1)
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Yeah. Just climb the nearest pole [wp.com] with an extension cord.
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Let the market actually speak. They have all kinds of stupid selections for what type of ride you want, but I never understood why EV isn't an option. I would always use the EV option if they had one.
Yes, this wouldn't cost Uber anything. (Other than the marginal cost of adding one more option.) And it would give passengers a market mechanism to incentivize driver behavior.
We'll See How Long This Lasts (Score:2)
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A few greased palms here and there and I can guarantee that they'll become exempt from this new rule.
The ramp-up is gentle enough that compliance is likely cheaper than the bribes.
Another cost dumped on their drivers (Score:2)
Will Uber and its rivals pay for these new EV cars? I'm sure the answer is: No.
How's that side job driving for Uber workin' out for ya? Making enough to afford a new EV car?
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Sound OK, but (Score:1)
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This will do nothing to ease air pollution in India
Yes, it will. EVs charged with coal are still cleaner than gassers with shifty emissions equipment. It will also ease air pollution in cities specifically, where it is worst. Run along now, and FUD elsewhere.
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When you account for increased efficiency in ICE vehicles, emissions are starting to level out between electrics and ICE when you factor in other particles such as tires and brakes.
ICE vehicles tend to use tires and brakes faster, because EVs usually have LRR tires, and they have regen. The only counterexamples are performance EVs, which are irrelevant to this discussion since nobody is using them for taxis in India.
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Go after the low hanging fruit first. Get all the two-cycle bikes and tuk-tuks [wikipedia.org] off the street first.
Too slow (Score:2)
Needs to be 100 percent by 2020.
We're in this for the species, boys and girls.
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2020 is 6 months from now.