EV Charging For All

How Electrifying Ridehailing Can Spur Investment in a More Equitable EV Charging Network

By Edward J. Klock-McCook, Shenshen Li, Ross McLane, Dave Mullaney, John Schroeder

It is rare that policy priorities, climate needs, and the needs of lower-income individuals align with industry sustainability commitments and the economics of building and operating infrastructure. However, when they do, it is a recipe for rapid, disruptive change. —EV Charging for All

Electrifying vehicles in ridehailing services, such as Uber and Lyft, is critical to accelerating the EV transition and provides key catalytic opportunities: lowering EV operational cost, creating a profitable investment opportunity for building fast-charging infrastructure, and equitably expanding EV charging capacity for all.

Electric Charging Deserts Prevalent in Los Angeles

In LA, many neighborhoods where household incomes are under $51,000 lack fast-charging infrastructure for EVs.

Direct-Current Fast Chargers
Household Incomes below $51,000

EV Rides More Common Where Chargers Are Prevalent

EV rides from ridehailing services tend to occur near charging stations—pulling EVs out of lower-income areas and concentrating benefits such as cleaner air in wealthier communities.

Direct-Current Fast Chargers
More Vehicle Miles Traveled by EVs
More Vehicle Miles Traveled by Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles

EV Buyers Determine Current Capacity

The existing fast-charging network has been built to support early adopters of EVs, who tend to live in wealthier areas.

Existing Capacity

EV Charging Capacity (kW)

5—150
150—1,050

Electrifying Ridehailing with a Wider, More Equitable Charging Network

Electrifying 90% of ridehailing miles by 2030 will require a fast-charging network that is much larger and more equitably distributed than the existing network.

90% Ridehailing Electrification

EV Charging Capacity (kW)

5—150
150—1,050
1,050—3,550
3,550—9,900

To electrify ridehailing vehicles at scale, key industry stakeholders must collaborate. Analyzing 100 million miles of actual data from electric and gasoline ridehailing vehicles, these reports offer actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

The analyses in both reports are based on deidentified data from ridehailing vehicles on the former Maven Gig platform, a subsidiary of GM that offered short-term rentals of GM vehicles to drivers operating for ridehailing companies.

Racing to Accelerate EV Adoption was made possible with support from ClimateWorks Foundation.

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Report | 2021