Uber Wants to Get More People in Electric Cars

As electric cars steadily shed their novelty status in the U.S., a new Uber initiative could give the technology a special boost in Portland, Oregon.

On Wednesday, Uber launched its first U.S. initiative aimed at adding hundreds of electric vehicles to its fleet. It’s based loosely on a program the company started last year in London, where it made 150 fully rechargeable Nissan Leafs available for lease by its drivers. In Portland, Uber will work through its Xchange Leasing program to sell or rent EV’s, primarily Nissan Leafs, to interested drivers for roughly $100 to $115 a week (which will come out of their Uber earnings), says Bryce Bennett, Uber’s general manager for Oregon.