Bolt adds premium EV fleets to its platform in Europe

Bolt is co-financing new premium electric cars in European cities to help drivers transition towards electric transport and offer our users more low-emission mobility options. 

The project has kicked off in 4 countries (Estonia, Poland, Germany, and Azerbaijan), where we’re supporting fleet companies in adding Teslas and other premium electric vehicles to their fleets. The initiative will expand to 10 cities in 2024 and scale up in 2025.

Improving access to low-emission transport options in European cities

The cost of owning an electric car is prohibitive for many of us. That’s why we’re supporting fleet owners by co-financing new electric cars in several European countries.

We’ve partnered with fleet owners we’d previously collaborated with, but are looking to expand the opportunity if this initiative succeeds. 

We encourage Bolt users to book rides in the Electric or Tesla ride type and share their feedback via the Bolt app. 

How to ride in an electric Bolt

Simply select the Electric or Tesla ride type to get picked up by a green Tesla or another electric vehicle.

Bolt’s longer-term investment in electric vehicles

We’re committed to investing in low-emission mobility options for a better future and making it easier for drivers and riders to switch to electric vehicles. 

Improving electric vehicle access for drivers

Recently, we surveyed drivers in several markets and identified the main issues that prevent them from preferring electric vehicles. These include:

• Electric vehicle costs (35% of respondents).
• Low awareness of electric vehicles (60% of respondents).
• Charging availability and costs (72% of respondents).

We’re working closely with policymakers, financiers, and charging infrastructure developers to improve charging availability and affordability and raise driver awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles.

Here are some of our partnerships:

• In the Baltics, we partnered with Eleport, a leading electric vehicle charging network developer in the Baltics and Poland, to install 750 electric vehicle charging points and launch a driver electric vehicle charging incentive programme. 

• In Spain, Repsol, the Bolt app’s official energy partner, provides drivers access to a comprehensive 100% renewable energy recharging service.

• In the UK, between 2020 and 2021, we committed £250,000 to improve electric vehicle infrastructure in collaboration with Ubitricity and partnered with Weflex and Splend to offer drivers rent-to-own solutions.

• In the Netherlands, we’re collaborating with Shell to provide drivers discounts for electric vehicle charging.

• In Malta, we deployed an electric 3-wheeler ride-hailing service in partnership with Buzzz Electric and an electric car model developed by BYD dedicated solely to ride-hailing operators.

• In France, we partner with Electra to offer electric vehicle drivers charging discounts. In addition, we’ll invest over €50M to support drivers in acquiring hybrid and electric vehicles, with options like leasing and purchase facilitated by bank guarantees.

• In Portugal, we’ve partnered with EDP to offer charging discounts to EV drivers.

• In Kenya, we’ve partnered with financier M-KOPA and electric motorbike assemblers Ampersand and Roam to launch an electric motorbike pilot in Nairobi. With 300 electric motorbikes rolling out across the capital of Kenya during the first half of 2024, we aim to scale the project up to more than 1,000 motorbikes by the end of the year.

Improving electric vehicle access for Bolt customers

Tesla launches also help to improve electric vehicle availability and awareness of Bolt’s low-emission mobility options among our customers.

According to our survey of 500 customers across multiple European countries, 60% say they’re more likely to use services like Bolt if electric vehicles are regularly accessible. 

Electric or Tesla ride types are already available in over 70 cities across Europe and Africa, and we’re continually expanding to more locations. We’re also doing our part to raise customer awareness by sharing information about low-emission transport alternatives.

Both private customers and Bolt Business users can help make a difference by choosing Bolt’s Electric or Tesla ride type or light electric vehicles (scooters and e-bikes).

Bolt’s long-term commitment is to become carbon net-zero by 2040. As ride-hailing is our major source of emissions, it’s vital that we support drivers, fleets, and customers on our platform in making the switch to electric vehicles. 

Creating cities for people

Cities worldwide are battling congestion, pollution, and a lack of space because they’ve prioritised private cars over people for decades.

Shared mobility platforms can help cities boost passenger transport electrification and reduce car dependency simultaneously.

Increasing the share of electric vehicles on our platform is a key part of our overarching mission to make cities for people, not cars.