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SINGAPORE: Starting July 14, people booking a Grab ride from central Singapore will be able to opt for a hybrid or electric vehicle ride, as part of the ridesharing platform’s drive to become more sustainable.
From that date, they will also have the opportunity to pay an additional S $ 0.10 to contribute to environmentally friendly projects in order to reduce their carbon footprint.
JustGrab Green will employ a fleet of vehicles meeting the Vehicle Emissions Program (VES) A2 emissions standard, such as the Hyundai Kona Electric or the Toyota Prius.
This will cut carbon emissions by around 55 percent compared to conventional gasoline vehicles, Grab said in a press release Wednesday, July 7.
Screenshot of JustGrab Green, which aims to enable passengers to reduce their carbon footprint by selecting an electric or hybrid vehicle when booking a trip on the Grab app. (Photo: Seize)
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The Singapore-based company – which earlier this year announced plans to go public with a valuation of $ 40 billion (S $ 53 billion) – said the trial service would operate under the same pricing structure as JustGrab, which deploys the nearest taxi or private hire. car to commuters for a flat rate.
The JustGrab Green option will first be available for travel bookings from areas such as Downtown Core, Marina South, Marina East, Bukit Merah, Outram, Queenstown, Bukit Timah, River Valley, Tanglin, Orchard, Newton, Novena, Toa Payoh, Bishan, Rochor, Kallang, Marine Parade and Geylang before being gradually extended to other sites.
To reduce their carbon footprint, commuters will also be able to pay an additional S $ 0.10 on top of their fare, which will be used to finance carbon offset and solarization projects in Singapore and the region.
The green program, which also rolls out on July 14, will see Grab match the S $ 0.10 contribution from commuters for up to three million trips.
Among the projects supported by the initiative is a collaboration between Grab and Sembcorp Industries to install solar panels on the roofs of community institutions in Singapore, such as community clubs and social homes.
The program will also support a tie-up between Grab and Dutch energy giant Shell to purchase carbon credits from the Katingan Mentaya project in Indonesia, which restores natural forests and conserves peatland habitats.
READ: Grab to raise fares by S $ 1 to boost drivers’ incomes in Singapore
The ridesharing giant will also expand its fleet of electric and hybrid vehicles through its rental subsidiary, GrabRentals, and aims to run its entire fleet with “cleaner energy” by 2030, as part of its targets sustainability of transport.
This is in line with Singapore’s Green Plan plans to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040 and replace them with cleaner energy alternatives, the company noted.
“Our 2030 transport sustainability goal is our commitment to take a holistic approach to tackling climate change,†said Andrew Chan, general manager of transport at Grab Singapore.
“The presentation of JustGrab Green and the Green program is the first of many steps Grab is taking to create solutions to environmental challenges. -the zero carbon future a reality for Singapore and the region. “
Grab Group’s chief marketing and sustainability officer Cheryl Goh said last month that the company has invested more than US $ 200 million (S $ 269 million) to increase the number of electric and hybrid vehicles in its market. rental fleet.
Grab also announced last month its intention to partner with automaker Hyundai to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Southeast Asia.
In May, rival Gojek – which operates in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore – said he aimed to make every vehicle on his platform an electric vehicle by 2030.
Meanwhile, taxi operator SMRT said in April that its entire fleet – which currently stands at 1,797 taxis – will include electric vehicles over the next five years.
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