As part of a partnership between Uber and EV startup, Arrival, the two transportation companies will design and build EVs tailored specifically to the needs of ride-share drivers in an effort to reduce emissions.
Despite the project’s nascence, Arrival released a first look at the EV’s design this week. The renderings are very much a work-in-progress according to Arrival, as the company is currently in the process of collecting feedback from ride-share drivers on what features or specs a ride-share EV might need. Arrival says the final design will be released before the end of this year.
Details on the EV are still sparse, but Electrek reports that it won’t necessarily be exclusive to Uber. A spokesperson for Arrival confirmed that other ride-sharing companies interested in purchasing the EV for their fleets may eventually do so.
There’s still a ways to go before Arrival and Uber’s EV starts to change the eco-footprint of ride-sharing. To make a real impact, the final product will not only have to be efficient, but accessible. At the moment, neither Uber nor Arrival mentioned an eventual price outside of saying the car will be “affordable.”