The Benefits of Driving an Electric Vehicle for TLC Drivers

Driving an electric vehicle (EV) comes with lots of benefits, not just in daily life, but also for your rideshare work. You can save money on expenses, whether you’re driving with Uber or another platform, and benefit from a number of green initiatives that reduce the cost of an EV. Plus, you’ll also help the environment in the process. And, in New York City, the only way to get a new TLC license is with an Electric or Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Electric Vehicles have been increasing in popularity with TLC drivers, and we’re not surprised. In this blog, we’ll highlight some of the main benefits of driving an EV as an Uber driver, and you can find some helpful resources to help you decide if making the switch is right for you.

Save time and money on trips to the mechanic

Over the course of owning a car, EVs are likely to cost you less than a standard gas-powered vehicle. In addition to electricity being cheaper than gas or diesel (see below), EVs also require less maintenance than an internal combustion engine (ICE) in a gas or diesel vehicle.

EVs have fewer moving parts than a regular vehicle, therefore making the maintenance of an EV far more simple. A gas or diesel car can contain hundreds of working parts, from the engine, to the radiator, to the exhaust system. EVs have fewer parts that could go wrong or will need to be replaced over time, making the maintenance of an EV far more cost-effective. In fact, according to a 2020 consumer report, drivers of EVs save an average of 50% on maintenance and repair compared to drivers of regular vehicles.

Make more money per trip with Uber’s EV incentives

Uber is committed to becoming a more sustainable platform, and has taken steps towards this by launching the new Uber Green initiative. This allows riders to specifically request a low-emission vehicle for an extra fee, giving TLC drivers an extra $0.50 for every completed trip that they make with their EV. This is one of the steps that Uber is taking to help achieve their goal of transitioning hundreds of thousands of drivers to EV by 2025.

There is an additional incentive that can increase your earnings with an EV driving with Uber, called the Zero Emissions Incentive. Drivers of fully electric vehicles can earn an extra $1 on every trip (up to $4,000 annually). When paired together with Uber Green, TLC drivers can add up a good amount of extra earnings per day.

Uber has also partnered with a number of other companies that are helping to make the switch to an electric vehicle easier and cheaper for TLC drivers. You can see their additional discounts and offers on their website

Choose from a range of electric vehicles

There was a time when finding a reliable EV with good range was very difficult. These days are over. More and more manufacturers are using their expertise to create vehicles that are better for the environment that also have good battery capacity, range, cargo size and score highly on overall performance.

A typical electric car will have a 60kWh battery, which means a range of approximately 200 miles. When you consider that an hour of fast charging can give you that full range for the day, you can clearly see the advantage of having an EV for rideshare in NYC; in addition to various savings, with overnight charging you’ll also have a car that can drive its full range ready for work every morning.

Among the top-rated EV options for rideshare drivers are the Hyundai Ioniq Electric, the Nissan Leaf e-Plus and the Kia E-Niro. Check out our list of the best electric cars for Uber drivers.

Reduce costs by adapting your driving

There are some small but effective ways that you can maximize the efficiency of your vehicle, saving you money on charging, and allowing you to accept more trips when you’re at work. Here are some of our top tips:

Precondition your car. Using your air conditioning or heater can noticeably reduce your battery’s charge. Instead of you and your passengers getting cold or overheating, you can precondition your car while it’s still charging. It takes the most energy to initially cool or warm your car, so if you get it to the right temperature while it’s still plugged in you can keep the car’s full range for your trips that day.
Put the car in cruise control. When driving on flat roads, take your foot off the accelerator and save your charge.
Remember regenerative braking. All EVs have some form of regenerative braking. This uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle, which at the same time also puts some electricity back into the battery. This makes braking more efficient, so remember your stopping distance and brake gradually to benefit from this. Regenerative braking also places less wear and tear on the brakes and creates less brake dust – so it’s better for efficiency and the environment.

New TLC Licenses only available for EV and WAV drivers

The Taxi and Limousine Commission in NYC is only issuing new for-hire vehicle licenses to drivers with an electric vehicle or a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, due to FHV licensing regulations. That means if you don’t already have a TLC license and want to start driving with Uber, you’ll need to have either a WAV or an EV. If you already have an EV, and want to start making money with Uber, you can visit a Greenlight Hub to get started, and check out our blog that lists out the steps you need to take to get a TLC license.

At INSHUR, we want you to get on the road and start earning. Maximizing the efficiency of your EV is important, so too is getting hassle-free insurance that doesn’t require you to wait for several hours or even days before you are able to drive again. INSHUR’s 100% online platform enables you to get a quote and a policy in minutes so you can get on with your day. Get your TLC insurance with us today.