Electric vehicle leasing startup Hive Technologies Inc said on Tuesday it closed a US$30 million funding round to expand its fleet for ride-hail drivers who can otherwise not afford the vehicles' higher upfront costs.
"The more you drive, the faster the car payment goes to zero. So instead of going under the water on a loan, you're benefiting," Hive Chief Executive Mathias Thomsen said in an interview with Reuters. Hive's funding round comes as ESG-minded investors pour money into EV companies, betting on a rapid uptick in EV adoption over the next few years.
Uber and Hertz in October announced a partnership to provide 50,000 Tesla Inc rentals to drivers starting at US$334 a week.