The Unexpected Twist in Electrifying Ridesharing Services - Nausea

As the electric vehicle (EV) industry continues to capture headlines regarding consumer sentiment and U.S. EV adoption, another emerging trend could be negatively impacting the industry.

Although I’m not on TikTok, I’ve noticed a developing trend, even firsthand, where riders experience nausea during Uber rides—primarily in Tesla vehicles—and some are even canceling any rides that show up as an EV. Of course, for all the complaints, there are hundreds of riders who either don't experience anything or enjoy their ride.

However, here’s a snippet: https://lnkd.in/e3Bckpjg

This issue stems from regenerative braking and a noticeable lack of driver education on managing it. Thus, ridesharing platforms need to improve driver education for those operating EVs for the first time.

The industry seems to be underestimating the impact of first-time experiences on non-early adopters of new technology. We’ve seen similar issues with EV charging uptime and reliability.

Initially, ridesharing was seen as a great way to introduce riders to EVs, but it may be backfiring if the industry doesn't get a handle on this issue. I’ve also personally encountered and heard about these issues:

1. I’ve been in several EVs where the driving caused me to feel nauseous.

2. Friends have shared that they refuse to use electric Ubers due to this issue.

3. Others have mentioned they dislike EVs after having a similar experience while renting or riding in them.

Interestingly enough, I've heard less complaints about motion sickness from Revel passengers. It might be because those drivers are more full-time employees of Revel and receive greater training on EVs early on.

So, what can be done to address this issue? Here are three solutions:

1. Ride-Comfort Adjustments: Implementing a feature within ridesharing apps that allows passengers to select a ‘comfort mode’ for EV rides could be beneficial. This mode could adjust driving patterns/settings on regenerative breaking to prioritize a smoother, more gradual ride for those sensitive to motion changes.

2. Enhanced Driver Training: Uber drivers operating Tesla and other EVs should receive specialized training on the unique characteristics of regenerative braking and how to manage them. This training should include techniques to ensure a smoother ride and minimize sudden stops that contribute to motion sickness.

3. Passenger Education: Providing passengers with brief educational materials or in-app notifications about what to expect during their EV ride could help. Understanding regenerative braking and how to mitigate its effects might reduce discomfort and improve their overall experience.