The shared mobility platform Bolt is introducing 30 bright green premium Tesla cars in Brussels to expand its taxi service in the Belgian capital as part of a wider European initiative, the company announced in a press release.
In Brussels, Bolt is mainly known for its sharing e-scooters but it also offers ride-hailing services. Now, the company is launching an initiative to support so-called "fleet owners" (companies managing a group of vehicles, often for taxi services) to make the switch to electric mobility.
"The cost of owning an electric car is prohibitive for many of us. That's why we are supporting fleet owners by co-financing new electric cars in several European countries," the company said in a press release last summer. "We have partnered with fleet owners we previously collaborated with, but are looking to expand the opportunity if this initiative succeeds."
A recent survey of Bolt drivers shows that the higher purchase cost, limited range of electric vehicles and inadequate charging infrastructure are some of the biggest barriers to switching to electric mobility. Bolt hopes that introducing Tesla cars will overcome some of these barriers.
Further expansion
The launch in Brussels is part of a pilot project in which Bolt is introducing premium electric vehicles in 10 European cities. The cars are already operational in Tallinn, Warsaw and Lisbon. They will soon roll in other European cities including Amsterdam, Berlin and Paris.
According to Bolt's survey, 60% of passengers are more likely to use taxi booking services if they have regular access to electric vehicles. "The feedback from Warsaw and Lisbon (the initial cities launched) shows keen interest from fleet owners and we are confident in scaling up further through 2025," said Paddy Partridge, Bolt’s senior vice president.
Bolt recently launched its 'Green' category (which offers rides exclusively in electric and hybrid vehicles) in Flanders. The company now plans to launch a dedicated option for low-emission rides soon in Brussels as well. The Tesla fleet is a significant step towards this, as it provides passengers with lower-emission transportation options without additional costs.
The platform aims to become a carbon-neutral company by 2040. Adding electric vehicles to the its platform is crucial to this commitment, as most of Bolt’s greenhouse gas emissions come from ride-hailing services.
