Why do people pay a premium to hail an Uber ride instead of a taxi? The difference is not insignificant: an Uber can easily cost up to 15-20 per cent more. So, last year, I conducted an experiment. For one month, I took Uber to work every morning, across the harbour, rain or shine.
For those 20 working days, the luxury service set me back about HK$3,000; the monthly expense is certainly not low. But I finally realised what value Uber was providing – and I do not mean the simple convenience of taking me from A to B. 04:41 Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs taxi battle? For those who can afford a private car and chauffeur, Uber offers an option for personalised mobility without car ownership.
This is a step forward in reducing the number of cars in the city, and without the need for any promotional campaigns – consumers are capable of doing the maths themselves. Second, I noticed that most of the Uber rides I took were in electric vehicles (EVs). Sometimes, I was picked up by a hybrid and only a few times in a conventional petrol-powered car.
Talk to any Uber driver and most will tell you they drive EVs because the fuel costs are lower. And, to maximise mileage, some Uber drivers only work during the peak morning and afternoon hours, recharging during the downtime. Unlike taxis that must typically be on hire for the whole shift to maximise revenue, Uber drivers can respond to supply and demand fundamentals.
In improving efficiency and lowering energy consumptio.
