Lyft to add 200 electric vehicles in Denver

DENVER — Lyft will bring 200 long-range electric rideshare vehicles to add to its fleet in Denver as part of its Express Drive program.

The company, in a press conference with Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, said the new vehicles would be operating by December. The quantity of vehicles represents the largest single deployment of electric vehicles in Colorado and one of the largest in the United States. 

“It’s because of Colorado, Gov. Polis and his administration, and state legislative leaders’ forward-thinking policies that we’re able to bring on electric vehicles at scale,” Cal Lankton, vice president of fleet and global operations for Lyft, said in the announcement. “This type of partnership will encourage Lyft and others to continue investing in electric vehicles and support infrastructure in Colorado.”

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In May, Gov. Polis signed a bill to allow rideshare rental programs to qualify for an electric vehicle tax credit at the same level as consumers — up to $5,000 per vehicle. As part of its commitment to make the communities it serves cleaner with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, Lyft is introducing 200 electric vehicles into the Express Drive program and plans to electrify more of the Lyft fleet each year.

“Part of improving transportation in Colorado is getting more and better choices for consumers. That means finding innovative ideas to provide quicker, cleaner, efficient ways to move around our cities,” said Polis. “And now with Colorado and Lyft leading the way in access to electric rideshare vehicles, we’re one step closer to achieving our vision for a cleaner future with more affordable transportation options.”

The move could mean more earning potential for Lyft drivers because electric vehicles can be less expensive to operate than traditional gasoline-fueled vehicles. Based on deployments in Seattle and Atlanta earlier this year, Lyft estimates its EV rental drivers are saving approximately $70-100 per week on fuel costs. 

Mayor Hancock said that increasing electric vehicle usage in the city has the potential to reduce the level of air pollution, 30 percent of which is caused by vehicles.

“What Lyft is doing here in Denver and Colorado is a phenomenal step in the right direction, and we have to keep working on more ways to reduce our carbon emissions and address climate change,” Hancock said.