Lyft is adding 200 long-range electric vehicles to Denver as part of its Express Drive program. This is Lyft’s largest single deployment of EVs to date—the largest single deployment in Colorado’s history, and one of the largest in the nation.
The company says the massive deployment was made possible by new legislation Colorado’s governor signed in May. Under the new law, rideshare rental programs qualify for an EV tax credit at the same level as consumers, which is up to $5,000 per vehicle.
Lyft is now encouraging other local politicians to follow in Colorado’s footsteps as part of its efforts to electrify is whole network.
Lyft is striving to make every ride 100% electric over time. This transition starts with electrifying fleets like those that are part of Lyft’s Express Drive rental program, which because of their higher utilization, will have an even larger positive impact when compared with personally owned EVs.
Based on deployments in Seattle and Atlanta earlier this year, Lyft estimates its electric vehicle rental drivers are saving approximately $70-100 per week on fuel costs. Over time, Lyft’s electric rideshare fleet may also help lower charging costs for all electric vehicles in Colorado.
