'Arrival Car' is a new electric vehicle prototype specifically for ride-hailing services like Uber

Uber, Lyft, and other popular ride-hailing and ride-sharing services have a new electric vehicle that’s specifically designed for the industry. The ‘Arrival Car’ prototype has been reportedly designed with inputs from professional Uber drivers, and its creators have indicated they addressed the majority of issues of passengers and drivers.

Although a radio cab travels between 28,000 and 31,000-miles on the road, drivers are still dependent primarily on vehicles that are designed for individuals or families. These personal vehicles usually stay within the 10,000 miles range. Needless to mention, cars meant for personal use are not built for the rigors, and sheer distance, commercial vehicles ferrying passengers, have to endure.

Presumably understanding this need and limitations, the Arrival Car prototype is unlike any personal or commercial car on the market today. As mentioned above, Uber drivers helped the creators of the electric vehicle address and improve aspects such as cost, uptime, driver comfort, safety, as well as convenience. Arrival is a British van and bus maker. It unveiled an electric bus prototype last month.

Speaking about the prototype, Tom Elvidge, EVP Vehicle Platforms at Arrival, said:

“Electrifying ride-hailing will play a crucial role in reducing the emissions of vehicles in cities globally, providing a sustainable, clean multi-modal transportation system for communities. We are keen on supporting drivers with this transition by developing the best possible product for ride-hailing that elevates the experience for both them and their passengers, making urban air clean in the process.”

Electric cars are the obvious next choice for personal and commercial vehicles. However, prevalent high prices are the biggest hurdle in their mass adoption. Although government subsidies and incentives help, professional drivers need vehicles that are cheap to buy, easy to maintain, and boost passenger-carrying capacity, without comprising safety and comfort. As the Arrival Car prototype has started trials, its makers have indicated the vehicle will undergo an additional design revision, before it unveils a production-ready model.