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Climate Now Episode 41

January 10, 2022

Why all ride-sharing should go electric. And autonomous, with Dave Rubin

Featured Experts

Dave Rubin
Head of Policy Research at Cruise

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Dave Rubin

Head of Policy Research at Cruise

Dave Rubin is the Head of Policy Research at Cruise,  a rideshare provider powered by self-driving, all-electric cars. Previously, he worked in strategic management consulting in Washington D.C. with a focus on transportation. Dave has a Master of Arts in Energy, Resources, and the Environment from Johns Hopkins University.

In this Episode

Ride-sharing services currently result in 69% more emissions, on average, than the trips they displace, according to a recent study by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

But, if the ride-sharing vehicles were electric, it’s a whole different story. Replacing one gasoline-powered ride-sharing car with an electric vehicle (EV) has three times the climate benefit as replacing a personal car with an EV.

Some companies like Cruise and Aurora go even further, developing electric autonomous fleets, which could further reduce the carbon footprint of ride-share vehicles.

Climate Now spoke with Dave Rubin, Head of Policy Research at Cruise, a self-driving, ride-sharing service, to understand how electric and autonomous vehicles could help us decarbonize road transportation, and the challenges ahead for wide-scale adoption.

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