In the USA, EVgo has launched a new EV charging discount program for rideshare drivers on the Lyft platform. Drivers on the Lyft platform will now be able to register for the new program with EVgo via the Lyft Driver app.

The exchange between the charging provider and the ride-sharing company means that Lyft drivers enrolled in the scheme will not have to pay monthly fees for EVgo’s 850 fast-charging locations across the country. The two companies have also said that Lyft drivers with Gold and Platinum status “in some markets” can save up to 45 per cent over EVgo’s standard charging rates.

“The number of rideshare drivers in the US has climbed above one million, with many millions more Americans taking advantage of ridesharing services every day. Accelerating the transition of rideshare vehicles to electric is a critical piece of transportation electrification in this country. Drivers with Lyft are uniquely positioned to benefit from EV use as well as be champions for electrification in the communities they serve,” said Cathy Zoi, CEO at EVgo.

In 2018, General Motors and EVgo began installing EV charging stations for use with GM’s Maven car-sharing service that operates via a platform called ‘Maven Gig’ dedicated to ride-sharing drivers of services like Lyft and Uber. In July this year, General Motors announced the development of a fast charging network at Pilot Company car stations in the US that will include 2,000 stations with charging capacities of up to 350 kW at up to 500 locations across the country and will be installed, operated and maintained by GM partner EVgo.

This new EV charging discount program between EVgo and Lyft follows recent “enhancements” that the charging provider has made to its EVgo network. This includes the availability of EVgo Autocharge+, which enables drivers to initiate a charging session by simply plugging in. EVgo says that Tesla drivers with the CCS Combo 1 Adapter can take advantage of this at many EVgo DC fast charging stations.