How to Make Your Rideshare Driving Environmentally Friendly

Rideshare driving can be a great way to make extra money, as it gives you the flexibility to choose when you work — and you are never confined to a set schedule like you are with a regular 9–5 job. If you make money driving, you may worry about your carbon emissions and the potential effects on the environment. By choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle, completing proactive maintenance tasks, and optimizing your driving habits, you can make your rideshare driving more environmentally friendly.

Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle

One of the biggest ways to reduce your carbon footprint while rideshare driving is to drive a fuel-efficient vehicle. Fuel-efficient vehicle options include hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles.

If you have the ability to invest in a dedicated vehicle for rideshare driving, consider a hybrid or plug-in hybrid option that optimizes your fuel efficiency. Choosing a fuel-efficient vehicle will not only reduce your carbon footprint but it will also save you money every time you fill up at the gas pump.

Another effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is by opting for an electric vehicle, which is a particularly good choice if you live in a city that has a robust charging infrastructure. 

Perform regular vehicle maintenance

• Tire pressure: Keeping your tires properly inflated is crucial for your vehicle's fuel economy. Improperly inflated tires create extra resistance when rolling, causing the engine to work harder — and use more fuel. Check your owner’s manual to determine the optimum inflation for your vehicle’s tires.
• Oil changes: Oil changes improve your engine’s performance, extend its lifetime, and increase fuel efficiency. Skipping regular oil changes can reduce engine performance and negatively impact gas mileage. Clean oil is essential to keep your engine and engine parts lubricated and running smoothly.
• Tire rotation: Tire rotation helps to ensure that your tires wear evenly. When tires wear unevenly, rolling resistance increases, causing your vehicle to use more fuel.
• Air filters: An air filter’s job is to clean the air that enters your vehicle. When your air filter becomes blocked or clogged with dirt or debris, it can no longer do its job — and this can have a serious impact on your engine. A clean air filter can help your engine run more smoothly,  reducing fuel consumption.

Optimize driving habits

• Reduce idling: A good rule of thumb is that if you are not moving, you should turn your car off (except at stop lights and stop signs). Idling can not only be harmful to the environment, it also wastes fuel and increases engine wear. Newer cars, like those needed to drive on a rideshare platform, can efficiently turn on and off when idling with no harm to the vehicle. These newer vehicles also do not need to warm up in order to properly operate.
• Limit hard acceleration and braking: When you accelerate quickly, your engine needs more power, which means more fuel is burned. Similarly, hard braking causes your engine to work harder to slow the vehicle, using more fuel. To avoid excessive use of fuel, gradually increase or decrease speed, and try to avoid sudden acceleration or braking. 

Conclusion

Rideshare driving is a supplement your income but additional trips on the road can negatively impact your carbon footprint. You can minimize your environmental impact by selecting a fuel-efficient car, keeping up with maintenance, and adopting eco-friendly driving practices.