A new EV player in Chicago, with no prior announcement

[rich.carroll]

Uber, the ride-shring service that competes with taxi drivers, has teamed with Chinese auto maker BYD, to bring a fleet of all-electric vehicles to the Chicago market.  The BYD ("Build Your Dream") model is called the "e6," and gets up to 186 miles on a single charge.

http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/15/uber-electric-byd-e6-chicago/?ncid=rss_truncated shows in the headline that this has already started, and Reuters is reporting http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/13/us-uber-byd-idUSKBN0M92KU20150313?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews that the program started a few weeks ago. 

Green Wheels in Chicago is reporting that they have the cars now, and describes the cars in some detail. 
https://www.cars.com/articles/2012/07/coming-to-america-the-chinese-byd-e6-/

 

Reuters  reports there are several options to allow you to drive the e6, including a $200 per week flat rate for Uber drivers.  Apparently, with a small investment, you can become a full Uber driver, making money, and driving an EV.

[jeffrey.miller]

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=33383

EPA reports it as 122 miles range.  I wouldn't want to run a taxi in a vehicle with 122 miles range and no fast charge.  Two trips to the airport if you are lucky!

It will be fun to see how those vehicles last in that "service" type cycle.  It doesn't seem to offer a Level 3 charge capability. 

[ted.lowe]

Interesting!  i like the idea of EVs with Uber.  Lots of lungs at work in the city/burbs.  i hope it succeeds.

Here's a new article that discusses the deal and the e6 a bit more:

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097269_uberx-drivers-to-test-byd-e6-chinese-electric-cars-in-chicago?fbfanpage