Grab to roll out first 20 electric vehicles on 11 January

It will progressively roll out a total of 200 electric vehicles for 2019.

20 Hyundai Kona electric vehicles under Grab's fleet will hit roads on 11 January as part of its move to build an environmentally friendly fleet, an announcement revealed.

According to the firm, GrabRentals is the first rental company and fleet owner globally to use the new model. Grab clinched an additional $343m (US$250m) investment from Hyundai Motor Group and its affiliate Kia Motors Corporation in November 2018. A total of 200 EVs will be progressively rolled out over the year.

“Beyond the usual on-boarding process, Grab is also conducting additional training to familarise drivers with the new model EV and the charging procedure for them,” the firm said in a statement.

In August 2018, Grab announced a strategic partnership with SP Group which will allow its driver-partners to use any of SP Group’s charging points islandwide at a preferential charging rate of up to 30% discount.

Also read: SP Group launches first wave of electric vehicle charging points

The vehicles will be available to Grab’s driver-partners at a rental rate of $80 per day and those who switch from petrol and hybrid cars can reportedly expect fuel cost savings up to approximately 70% and 40%, respectively. Additionally, drivers can also expect to earn up to 25% more in daily income when they switch to the new Hyundai Kona EVs offered.

“GrabRentals is continually looking at ways to provide Grab driver-partners with vehicle rental options that bring real benefit to them, especially in areas like lowering their operating costs and increasing driver welfare,” GrabRentals Singapore head Kau Yi Ming said in a statement. “We want to champion the adoption of low-carbon emission technologies that benefit our drivers, their passengers and the environment.”

Meanwhile, GrabRentals is set to launch an exclusive achievement-based rewards programme aimed at its EV drivers in February 2019, the announcement revealed.