So last year, I did an experiment: for a month, I took an Uber across the harbor to work every morning, rain or shine. Over the course of 20 days, this luxury service cost me about HK$3,000. Not a cheap monthly expense.
But I finally understood what value Uber provides, and I don’t just mean the convenience of getting me from point A to point B.
04:41
Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs. taxi battle?
Where do drivers stand in Hong Kong’s Uber vs. taxi battle?
For those who can afford to hire their own car and a driver, Uber offers the option of providing personal transportation without owning a car, a step towards reducing the number of cars in the city, one that doesn’t require advertising campaigns and can be calculated by consumers themselves.
Second, I noticed that most of my Uber trips were in electric vehicles (EVs). I have been picked up in hybrids, but only a few times in conventional gasoline vehicles. If you talk to Uber drivers, most will tell you they drive EVs because fuel is cheaper.
Also, to maximize the number of miles driven, some Uber drivers only work during peak morning and afternoon hours and charge during their off hours. Unlike taxis, who typically must hire their cabs for an entire shift to maximize revenue, Uber drivers can respond to the principles of supply and demand. Economically, Uber makes a lot of sense in terms of improving efficiency and reducing energy consumption while providing the same service.
03:49
Baidu gets permission to offer fully driverless robot taxi service in Beijing
Baidu gets permission to offer fully driverless robot taxi service in Beijing
Musk’s vision aligns with the World Economic Forum’s sustainable urban transport goals, which predicts that by 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in urban areas, making transportation a major urbanization challenge.
During that time, the number of passenger cars is projected to grow to 2.1 billion, but increased use of shared, electric, connected and automated (SEAM) transportation could reduce the number of passenger cars to just 500 million — a 76 percent reduction in the vehicle population.
In addition to reducing congestion and improving transport efficiency, promoting SEAM transport will improve air quality, minimise pollution and increase health and productivity.
01:15
Drone food delivery begins in China’s tech city, Shenzhen
Drone food delivery begins in China’s tech city, Shenzhen
If we had listened to the candle makers who complained about the invention of the incandescent light bulb, or the carriage drivers who protested about the invention of the automobile, there would have been very little progress throughout the ages.
The discovery of new and improved methods is not intended to target old industries: inventors simply find ways to perform a task or service better.
These are not the words of someone arrogant and blind to the plight of traditional industries. As a working designer, I am very aware that AI is going to take over some of my work. The challenge is to reinvent ourselves, stay agile, keep an open mind, and keep learning.
After all, according to Charles Darwin, it is not the strongest or most intelligent species that survives, but the species that are best able to adapt and adapt to a changing environment.
Dennis Lee is a Hong Kong-born, licensed American architect with many years of design experience in both the United States and China.
The author has no affiliation with or ownership in Uber Technologies Inc.
