Electrifying Ride-Hailing in the United States, Europe, and Canada: How to Enable Ride-Hailing Drivers to Switch to Electric Vehicles

This research paper by the World Resources Institute examines the barriers preventing ride-hailing drivers in the United States, Europe, and Canada from switching to electric vehicles (EVs) and proposes strategies for governments and industry stakeholders to accelerate electrification.

• Ride-hailing vehicles are intensively used and their charging patterns can help develop EV infrastructure, yet they are often overlooked in electrification efforts. Consequently, the proportion of EVs in ride-hailing fleets in U.S., European, and Canadian cities is frequently similar to or lower than the general vehicle stock.
• Drivers face a complex landscape of financial incentives, EV models, and charging options, making it difficult to determine if EVs are cost-effective or suitable for ride-hailing compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
• To increase EV adoption among ride-hailing drivers, stakeholders should prioritize reducing up-front costs and financing barriers, improving charging affordability and convenience (specifically urban fast-charging and overnight solutions for renters), and educating drivers. Specific high-priority actions include installing 350 kilowatt chargers, revising fast-charging pricing, and updating ride-hailing apps to support EV drivers.

APA

World Resources Institute (2021). Electrifying Ride-Hailing in the United States, Europe, and Canada: How to Enable Ride-Hailing Drivers to Switch to Electric Vehicles. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-ride-hailing-united-states-europe-canada

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Electrifying Ride-Hailing in the United States, Europe, and Canada: How to Enable Ride-Hailing Drivers to Switch to Electric Vehicles. 2021. https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-ride-hailing-united-states-europe-canada.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Electrifying Ride-Hailing in the United States, Europe, and Canada: How to Enable Ride-Hailing Drivers to Switch to Electric Vehicles |date=10 November 2021 |url=https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-ride-hailing-united-states-europe-canada |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute2021electrifying, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Electrifying Ride-Hailing in the United States, Europe, and Canada: How to Enable Ride-Hailing Drivers to Switch to Electric Vehicles}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2021}, month = nov, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/electrifying-ride-hailing-united-states-europe-canada}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }