View Single Post
Old 09-18-2016, 05:46 PM   #20 (permalink)
Hersbird
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Missoula, MT
Posts: 2,668

Dark Egg - '12 VW Touraeg
Thanks: 305
Thanked 1,187 Times in 813 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5 View Post
Does Uber pay van drivers more money since they hold more people? Van doesn't make sense unless it makes more money based on the extra capacity.

FYI- Oregon doesn't have any incentives for vehicle purchases of any type.

To maximize profits and minimize expense, something like a 2008 Prius would be best. It's only a grand more expensive than the same year Corolla. Go into super saver mode to build up the additional $1,500 you'll need to get one.

You could always get something like a 2008 Chevy Aveo or Hyundai Elantra. I'd probably choose the Elantra over the Aveo, because nobody is going to be happy getting picked up in the crappiest car allowed by Uber.
Huh? They have incentives. From OR DMV here is one "Oregon business owners might be eligible for a maximum project tax credit of up to 35% of eligible costs associated with projects involving:
Alternative fuel vehicle infrastructures—Projects such as electric vehicle charging, blender pump, and compressed natural gas systems.
Transit services—Projects involving regular public transportation (excluding school bus, charter, or intercity passenger rail transportation) that reduce energy consumption." They also have zero rate loans for public service type agencies to buy hybrids. I bet money that some local cities, especially Portland and Eugene, also have grants and tax incentives to companies for this type of thing as well. It also looks like the Portland city council hadn't approved new cab permits for a decade until 2012 when it was a bunch of proposals from "green" car type cabs that they finally added big number to the fleet. So the city basically picked the winners and loser of what cab companies even were allowed to drive in Portland, and they picked the companies running Prius.

After looking at some Uber drivers break down their cost, I would say the only way to make worthwhile money is in tips. For this I would say the driver personality would be #1 and the comfort and condition of the car would be #2. Really the money is terrible, people working their wheels off for $3.50/hr before any tips. I think they may be like waitstaff. Before tips wages terrible, after tips especially under the table, they do pretty well. In Oregon as pointed out a Prius is beloved, or a Subaru. Any beloved car can also encourage better tipping and happier customers. I doubt that will be the case for Atlanta GA.

Last edited by Hersbird; 09-18-2016 at 05:57 PM..
  Reply With Quote