New York City recently unveiled its "Green Rides" plan, aimed at fully electrifying the entire fleet of rideshare vehicles - taxis, limousines and companies like Uber and Lyft - by 2030.

Currently, rideshare vehicles operating in New York account for around 4% of the city's transport-related CO2 emissions, according to a study by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)..

Starting in 2024 and in collaboration with the TLC, 5% of all trips made by taxi or rideshare (Uber and Lyft) must be made in zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This threshold will rise to 15% in 2025 and then to 25% in 2026. By 2030, the entire sector will have undergone its energy transition. Uber and Lyft have already stated their intention to switch to an all-electric fleet.

In terms of infrastructure, New York City plans to install 200 DC fast chargers and 1,000 Level 2 chargers for electric vehicles by the end of 2023. Legislation is also set to be amended, requiring garages and private parking lots to install at least one charging system for electric vehicles.

New York State is one of nine American states to require that all new vehicles sold on its territory be CO2 emission-free by 2035, as will be the case in the European Union. Alongside this, New York is also looking to expand its public transport offering, investing further in the development of its subway, bus and ferry services. The city has also announced funding for the construction of new bicycle lanes.

 - AFP Relaxnews