FREE NOW goes electric in Cork, Galway and Limerick

Ireland’s leading multi-mobility app FREE NOW, has announced the expansion of its Eco booking service in Cork, Galway and Limerick. Passengers in these cities can choose more sustainable transport options by selecting a hybrid or electric taxi on the app at no extra cost.

This announcement forms part of FREE NOW’s sustainability strategy – Move to Net-Zero programme – which includes immediate offsetting and long-term Net-Zero efforts with the goal of achieving 50% fully electric vehicle rides by 2025 and 100% zero emissions by 2030. 

Following the initial launch of its Eco booking option in Dublin last year, FREE NOW has experienced a huge demand from the public for environmentally friendly transport choices with eco trips in Dublin soaring by 146% between September 2020 and July 2021.

The national expansion of the new Eco booking service into major cities across Ireland coincides with European Mobility Week 2021 which takes place from the 16^th-22^nd September to support sustainable transport across Ireland.

According to new research conducted by FREE NOW*, 87% of passengers are worried about climate change and 60% would like to have sustainable transport as a default booking option on the app. Furthermore, 58% believe that there are too many private cars on the road, and 17% stress that private vehicle dependency is one of the main transport difficulties in their area.

FREE NOW sustainability commitment across Europe

FREE NOW has integrated almost 130,000 new electric vehicles in the app in order to widen its green mobility offer and become the mobility platform with the biggest vehicle choice in Europe. By the end of 2021, FREE NOW expects to complete 4 million rides with multi mobility partners such as TIER & VOI (Scooters , EMMY & Cooltra (Mopeds), Miles & ShareNow (car sharing) on the app.

FREE NOW is also working with ClimatePartner to develop offset projects to compensate for the current output of CO2 emissions produced by both the company and its services. 

In total, FREE NOW is offsetting 173,000 tons of CO2 emissions with three projects in Madre de Dios, Peru (dedicated to protecting a threatened piece of the Amazon); in Indonesia (extending wind energy in the region and developing rural areas); and in Europe (supporting the afforestation and the change of local forests by regional tree planting).

Carson, General Manager at FREE NOW Ireland: “We are delighted to announce the launch of Eco bookings for drivers and passengers across Cork, Galway and Limerick. Supporting the national effort to develop a more sustainable transport system across Ireland is a crucial part of our sustainability strategy, and the expansion of our electric offering is a key milestone in reaching our target of a 50% EV fleet by 2025, and 100% net zero emissions by 2030.

“The demand from our passengers for more environmentally friendly transport is extremely positive with 84% saying they would choose a sustainable booking option if it was available, so we are delighted to make this a reality at no extra charge for people as we continue to expand our electric offering.”

Further information is available at free-now.com