Partnership aims to put more electric vehicles in Atlanta’s rideshare market

Most metro Atlantans have grown accustomed to seeing glowing Uber logos and bright pink Lyft dash displays as they inch through traffic.

But proponents of cyclist-friendly infrastructure and alternative vehicle share options like Bird scooters and Lime bikes might wonder what the popularity of Uber and Lyft is doing to the region’s traffic conundrum.

Sure, carpooling, in theory, takes some cars off the road. But from an environmental standpoint, are rideshare services making a positive dent in the fight against pollution?

Well, as of October 18, sort of. Potentially, at least.

Lyft recently partnered with utility Georgia Power to launch the Charge Up Atlanta project, which incentivizes owners of electric vehicles to join the riseshare company’s fleet.

Qualified EV drivers who sign up before November 21 can earn a $500 bonus if they take on at least 30 rides within 30 consecutive days.

Lyft’s southeast general manager, Sam Bond, said in a prepared statement that putting more rideshare users in electric vehicles is better for the environment and educates people about the benefits of emission-free cars.

“By attracting more EV drivers to Lyft, we hope to get more Georgians in electric vehicles so they can experience the ride firsthand,” he said. “We hope it challenges misperceptions about EVs.”

Lyft also recently committed to making its rides totally carbon-neutral, which might seem impossible with gas-guzzlers in its armada.

The company works with sustainability pros at 3Degrees, and for every ton of carbon pollution produced by Lyft drivers, the rideshare company pays 3Degrees to do things that keep carbon pollution out of the atmosphere, according to The Atlantic.

So as Lyft drivers burn fossil fuels, 3Degrees is planting trees and building wind farms.

In related news, Uber recently kicked off an initiative to make all the vehicles in its London fleet electric-powered by 2025, according to Clean Technica.

• Your Lyft Ride is Now Carbon-Neutral. Your Uber Isn’t. [The Atlantic]