Peninsula Clean Energy Pilot Offers EV Incentive For Lyft Drivers

REDWOOD CITY, CA — Peninsula Clean Energy, the electricity provider for San Mateo County, is launching an electric vehicle ride-hailing program, where it will provide $500,000 in rental incentives for Lyft ride-hailing drivers to even the cost of renting an EV with a gasoline-powered vehicle.

According to a news release Tuesday, the pilot program launching this fall is the first of its kind in California. The goal is to have around 100 EV Lyft vehicles in San Mateo County, which would save 200,000 gallons in gas usage and more than $750,000 in cost for rail-hail drivers, the news release stated.

San Francisco-based Lyft’s rental car partner, Flexdrive, is also joining in the program.

“Partnering with Lyft and Flexdrive in this pilot effort represents a big opportunity to reduce a significant source of heat-trapping emissions in our region,” Peninsula Clean Energy CEO Jan Pepper said. “We believe this can eventually lead to a far greater number of ride-hailing and other drivers on the road who will opt for cleaner electrified transportation options.”

In a news release, Lyft Sustainability Policy Manager Jon Walker said the ride-hailing company is committed to reaching 100 percent electric vehicles by 2030.

“Through this program, we can make EVs more accessible and help ensure that their benefits are distributed equitably and experienced by drivers and communities,” Walker said.