DTE incentivizes Lyft drivers to go electric with up to $5,000 for purchase, use of EVs

Through DTE Energy’s Charging Forward program, DTE and Lyft have agreed to incentivize the latter’s ride-share drivers to upgrade to electric vehicles with up to $5,000 provided to purchase or lease such vehicles and use on their jobs.

“Lyft is excited to partner with DTE to help drivers make the transition to electric vehicles. For many, the price of switching to an EV remains too high, but with this program, more people will be able to access the benefits of electrification,” Paul Augustine, senior manager of sustainability at Lyft, said. “Smart investments like these are an important step in ensuring Lyft reaches its goal of 100 percent EVs on our network by 2030.”

The Michigan-based DTE will provide $2,000 of this new incentive as a rebate for the purchase or leave of an EV when drivers apply and are accepted into Charging Forward. After that, the remaining funds will be issued to drivers in four quarterly payments of $750 – supposing the driver completes 200 rides per quarter.

It is the latest piece of the Charging Forward program, which began with charger rebates for customers. DTE invests more than $1 billion each year to improve electric reliability on the grid and increase capacity for future EV adoption.

“We want to connect with customers in a way that makes sense for their life and what is important to them,” Tony Tomczak, vice president of Electric Sales and Marketing at DTE, said. “We are eager to provide equitable access to new, cleaner technologies like EVs in southeast Michigan as we push forward in our journey toward a cleaner energy future.”

To apply for the rebate, eligible drivers must reside within DTE Electric service territory.