Using electric vehicles in rideshare services could cut long-term air pollution by as much as 45 per cent, according to a study based on rides in the United States.
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But removing petrol cars from rideshare networks might ultimately have a modest positive impact, the research found, because of extra driving to charging stations and pollution from coal-fired power plants.
The findings come one week after the Clean Energy Finance Corporation invested $20 million in a start-up targeting rideshare drivers and less than two weeks after the launch of Uber's electric and hybrid service in Australia.
The University of Michigan study, published in American Chemical Society's Environmental Science and Technology journal, simulated the use of electric vehicles using real-world data from Uber and Lyft trips in Chicago between 2019 and 2022.
The data detailed more than one million trips, including travel made during the COVID-19 pandemic and after restrictions lifted.
Researchers accounted for vehicles' greenhouse gas emissions but also factored in road congestion, vehicle noise and the risk of accidents.
Senior study author and University of Michigan environment and sustainability assistant professor Parth Vaishnav said the data showed replacing petrol cars with electric vehicles could reduce "lifetime greenhouse gas emissions" by between 40 and 45 per cent.
But it also showed drivers would spend more time driving to charging stations, potentially increasing traffic and crash risks, and electric cars could increase air pollution from fossil fuel-based power plants.
"Our simulation showed that electric vehicles drive greater distances without a passenger than do gasoline vehicles since EVs have to travel to chargers more often than gasoline vehicles have to refuel," he said.
"Furthermore, fast chargers are not as ubiquitous as gas stations which means EVs have to travel farther each time they refuel than gasoline vehicles."
The overall benefit of replacing petrol vehicles in rideshare fleets, the study found, was a three per cent reduction in "costs on society".
Financially, however, that cost would translate to a $US1.5 million ($S2.1 million) saving each year in Chicago.
Mr Vaishnav said the study highlighted the need for governments to invest in more active transport, including bike lanes and public transport options.
"Electrification is a small win for society," he said.
"A bigger win would be to dramatically reduce our dependence on cars."
Both the federal government and local businesses have launched initiatives to encourage rideshare drivers to upgrade to electric vehicles in Australia, with figures revealing professional drivers cover up to 60,000 kilometres each year compared to an average of 11,000km.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation invested $20 million in Splend last week, which offers electric cars on subscription to Uber drivers, in a move that is expected to see the company offer another 500 electric car packages this year.
Uber also launched its Uber Green tier in Australia on June 8 after revealing 1250 electric vehicles had been registered on its platform.
The company is targeting a fully electrified fleet in the country by 2040.
Australian Associated Press
