Autonomous vehicle operator Waymo is going all-in on EVs. The Alphabet subsidiary will phase out the plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivans it's been using for six years and replace them with all-electric Jaguar I-Pace SUVs.
By the end of April, ride-hail customers in Phoenix's East Valley (primarily Chandler, Tempe, and Mesa, Arizona) will be able to access a fully electric fleet, which runs on the fifth-generation Waymo Driver AI platform.
The move comes nearly five years to the date that Waymo and Jaguar announced a partnership to design and engineer a fully self-driving version of the all-electric sport-utility vehicle.
"We believe that autonomous EVs efficiently driven around the clock can maximize [their] environmental benefits with a significantly higher vehicle utilization," Waymo said this week. "Our EV fleet is matched with 100% renewable energy, which enables us to provide a zero-emission ride-hailing service to our customers."
Waymo is also joining the White House EV Acceleration Challenge, which aims to have 50% of all new vehicle sales be electric by 2030.
"For many, hailing a fully autonomous ride with Waymo may be the easiest way to access an EV," the company said. "Our growing ride-hailing service not only increases sustainable transportation options, but also offers Waymo's safety benefits to the communities we serve."
Waymo has been testing autonomous cars on public roads since 2017, when it first unveiled the souped-up Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid van. In late 2021, it also teased a taxi without steering wheels or pedals, though they are still intact on the Jaguar EV.