California will require Uber, Lyft drivers to transition to electric cars

Electric vehicles must account for 90 percent of ride-hailing vehicle miles traveled in California by 2030.

By Joseph Guzman | May 21, 2021

Story at a glance
California's clean-air regulator on Thursday unanimously approved new rules for ride-sharing companies Thursday.
The companies will have to begin the electrification of their fleets in 2023.
Both Uber and Lyft have already committed to converting their fleets entirely to electric vehicles by 2030.

California is requiring ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft to transition from gasoline to electric vehicles (EVs) in their networks by the end of this decade.

The state's clean-air regulator on Thursday unanimously approved the Clean Miles Standard mandating that EVs account for 90 percent of ride-hailing vehicle miles traveled in California by 2030.

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The ride-share companies will have to begin the electrification of their fleets in 2023.

The move by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is part of California's effort to phase out gas-powered vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral by 2045. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) last year signed an executive order requiring all new cars and passenger trucks sold in the state of nearly 40 million residents be zero-emission by 2035.

"The transportation sector is responsible for nearly half of California's greenhouse gas emissions, the vast majority of which come from light-duty vehicles," CARB Chair Liane M. Randolph said in a statement.

"This action will help provide certainty to the state's climate efforts and improve air quality in our most disadvantaged communities," Randolph said.

Both Uber and Lyft have already committed to converting their fleets entirely to EVs by 2030 and have made efforts to help drivers make the shift. The companies have said, however, California needs to spend more money to help drivers afford the zero emissions vehicles, according to Reuters.

"Lyft supports CARB's EV and [greenhouse gas] targets for TNCs [ridesharing companies] and advocated for aggressive targets throughout the process," Paul Augustine, senior manager of Sustainability at Lyft, told Changing America in a statement.

Uber applauded the rule as "one of the first emissions policies in the world based on real-world vehicle use."

"With ridehail trips accounting for just 1% of California's light-duty vehicle emissions, we hope [Clean Miles Standard] becomes a useful template for examining the other 99 percent," Adam Gromis, global head of sustainability for Uber, said in a statement.

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