Oct 22 (Reuters) - Uber Technologies ( UBER ) said on

Wednesday it is rebranding its "Uber Green" service as "Uber

Electric" and launching a $4,000 grant program for drivers, as

part of the ride-hailing giant's push toward zero-emission rides

by 2040.

The new grants, branded "Go Electric," will provide

eligible drivers $4,000 to buy new or used EVs in states

including California, New York, Colorado and Massachusetts.

The program could be crucial to meet Uber's climate targets

and competitiveness in the green mobility race as it can be

combined with other discounts and state-level incentives -

potentially slashing thousands more off sticker prices even as a

federal tax incentive ends.

A $7,500 federal tax credit for new electric vehicle

purchases, introduced during President Joe Biden's term, expired

last month, making EVs costlier for buyers.

Earlier this year, Uber shifted its Uber Green service in

the U.S. to an all-electric model, moving away from the mix of

hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

Uber said more than 200,000 EVs are now on its platform

globally, with drivers in the U.S., Canada and Europe going

electric up to five times faster than other motorists. One in

four riders reported their first EV experience was through Uber,

the company said.

It will offer riders a 20% discount on their next electric

trip to mark the rebrand.

Uber is also expanding its battery-aware matching feature to

25 countries, aiming to ease "range anxiety" for drivers, which

refers to the fear that an electric vehicle will run out of

charge before reaching a charging station or completing a trip.