Uber has announced the introduction of its first fleet of passenger electric vehicles in South Africa, called Uber Go Electric, according to ITweb.
The rollout was announced yesterday at Uber’s low cost mobility thought-leadership event, with 70 electric cars immediately hitting the streets in Johannesburg, and a further 280 to be launched by the end of January 2026.
Uber already has over 200,000 electric vehicle drivers on its platform globally, with South Africa being the latest country to be added to its EV lineup.
The e-hailing service told Hypertext that its EV drivers will be able to retain a greater share of their income thanks to lower operating costs, fewer mechanical issues, more predictable running costs.
Furthermore, riders benefit from affordable rides that are quieter and more comfortable.
Uber said that the service will be expanded beyond Johannesburg, but it is currently limited to Johannesburg’s Rosebank and surrounding areas.
The e-hailing service did not provide a timeline on further expansion.
“Uber Electric is another step in our journey toward a cleaner, more connected future, making all-electric trips the easy choice,” said Uber in a previous press release.
“Of course, we can’t get there alone, and progress will continue to depend on collective action and partnership across the industry.”
In South Africa, Uber’s EV rollout is powered by a partnership with Valternative Energy, a clean energy implementation company founded in South Africa in 2022.
“This launch isn’t just a milestone – it’s proof of what focus, grit, and mission-aligned partnerships can deliver,” said Valternative Energy.
The two companies have partnered together in South Africa previously in 2023, which saw Uber launch its first EV service locally.
The service, called Uber Connect, was not for passenger rides, but rather it was an electric scooter-based service specifically for package deliveries in Cape Town.
Valternative implemented a hot-swapping battery solution that enabled drivers to switch out a depleted battery for a charged battery in under a minute.
Recently, the service said it had grown to over 100 battery swapping stations and over 1,000 electric delivery motorcycles in South Africa – co ering almost 44,000km in a day.
Uber Moto
Uber also announced that it has seen huge uptake in its single passenger motorbike ride service, Uber Moto.
Uber Moto was launched as a pilot project in Johannesburg CBD in February 2025, in an attempt to provide more affordable ride options for South Africans.
It launched with ride prices as low as R18 per trip, aimed specifically at first- and last-mile transportation in areas with limited transportation coverage.
It said that the project has become a trusted and affordable mobility ride option for South Africans, and now completes thousands of trips across Johannesburg every week.
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