Uber Clean Air Plan: £5000 EV Grant for Drivers in London
Uber introduced a Clean Air Plan in 2019 to reduce air pollution in London. Drivers who meet eligibility criteria can benefit from Uber Clean Air EV Assistance. This policy helps drivers spend less from their pockets when renting or buying a car for ride-hailing with Uber. In May 2024, Uber introduced a new plan, the PowerUp Package. It offers new benefits for Uber drivers, helping them switch to EVs for relatively less money. Here are the answers to the common questions asked by PCO drivers so you can shift to EVs easily.
About the Uber PowerUp Package
Uber PowerUp Package encourages drivers to switch to EVs. See what the package offers:
1. Up to £5,000 for non-EV Drivers
You can receive financial assistance for up to £5,000 to switch to an EV easily. For example, if you have already gained £2,200 in Uber EV Assistance, you can get an additional £2,800 from Uber to switch to EV easily.
2. Exclusive Discounts on Kia Niro EV & Kia EV6
You can get £13,000 for a Kia Niro EV and £17,000 for a Kia EV6 using Uber’s special offer. There are even better discounts if you prefer rent-to-buy. Get detailed information here.
3. Free Charging Credits for Early Birds
Active drivers can get £250 to £750 of charging credits divided over 3 months if they subscribe early and fall among the first 8,000 subscribers. It offers free charging worth £250 for 3 months.
How to Qualify:
- Become a subscriber to BP Pulse.
- Your Uber driver status should be active.
- Link your Uber driver and BP Pulse accounts.
Your free charging credit offer starts once your subscription becomes active.
INSIDER TIP: Subscribe when you are ready to use the offer because it expires at the end of each month.
What If You Already Have a BP Pulse Account?
You are still eligible for free charging credits. Just make sure that your BP Pulse and Uber driver accounts are linked and that you have direct Debit set up.
Who is Eligible for a £5,000 Uber Grant?
You must meet the following criteria to benefit from the £5,000 Uber EV Grant.
- Your rides with EVs before May 21, 2024, should be less than 10.
- You must add an EV to your Uber account by November 30, 2024.
- The amount you have received from EV Assistance should be less than £4,900.
- You didn’t benefit from EV Assistance to rent an EV and then switched back to a non-EV car.
Can You Build Up New EV Assistance?
Unfortunately, you can’t benefit from EV Assistance after Uber’s new policy. Uber stopped adding funds to drivers’ accounts in May 2024. However, there are still some other benefits for existing Uber drivers who want to switch to EVs.
- Use Existing Funds to Buy EVs: If you have already received Uber Clean Air funds, you can use this amount to switch to an electric car.
- Relatively High Earning with Uber Green: You are eligible for Uber Green if you buy a fully electric car. It helps you earn 10% more than UberX rides.
How to Use EV Assistance for PCO Car Hire
You can save up to £300 on an EV rental plan by using your EV Assistance money to lower the rental cost for 4 weeks when you hire a PCO EV. It is like getting a discount on rental plans for a month.
EXPERT ADVICE: Use your EV Assistance funds smartly to benefit from this amount throughout your rental period.
If your Uber EV grant runs out, you will pay weekly until your contract ends. So, rent an EV wisely with your “EV Assistance Funds” to enjoy a discount on your weekly payment throughout your rental journey.
How to Use EV Assistance on Rent to Buy
Firstly, the option is only available for fully electric PCO cars in London. If you have accumulated an EV Assistance fund, you can use this amount to reduce your weekly payments for rent-to-buy. It is like using your savings to make your further payments easy.
Remember: You can’t use the saved amount for a down payment. It is only useable when you want to reduce your weekly payment.
What’s the Expiry Date to Use Saved EV Assistance Amount?
You can use the funds to switch to EVs till March 31, 2025. If you don’t use these funds by then, Uber will transfer the amount to drivers who want to switch to electric vehicles.
Which PCO Cars Can Benefit from EV Assistance Offer?
Fully electric cars that are PCO-licensed. Hybrids and plug-in hybrids don’t qualify for this discount.
PRO TIP: Check the list of eligible EVs on Uber’s website.
How Can You Determine How Much EV Assistance Funds You Have?
Uber sends you an email monthly with your EV Assistance funds. You can check your email to know how much money you have in your account. If you can’t find the email, you can check your funds through the Uber driver app. Go to the Help section and contact the Uber Support team to ask how much EV Assistance funds you have accumulated.
About Simple Self Drive
Simple Self Drive could be the best option if you are looking to hire or rent-to-buy EVs for Uber. We have hundreds of PCO-ready EVs in our fleet, all ready to go, with fully comprehensive insurance. Get your car with the all-inclusive plan and drive away the same day. Contact our team and share your requirements. We will get in touch shortly.
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FAQs
You can claim the Uber PowerUp package in the following ways:
- PCO car hire: Get £300 for weekly payment until the PowerUp Package funds run out.
- Rent-to-buy: Reduce your weekly payments using these funds until they run out.
Both new and old electric cars are eligible for EV Assistance funds. Remember, gas, diesel, and hybrid cars do not meet the criteria for EV Assistance funds.