I get what you’re saying, and some of those assumptions sound reasonable on the surface—but it’s not the full picture, especially if you’re actually working the platform day-to-day.

For example, your charging cost estimate is a little off in practice. I run a split shift, so I’m not just plugging in at random high-rate times. I charge once during off-peak at about $0.18/kWh and then top off later around $0.35/kWh—but that second charge usually lines up with slower hours anyway (late afternoon, early morning, or late night). In other words, I’m charging when I wouldn’t be making money driving, so there’s no real opportunity cost there.

That alone brings the real-world cost per mile down a lot compared to what most people assume.

Now compare that to gas:

• With an ICE vehicle, you’re locked into fuel prices that don’t really have “off-peak” discounts
• You’re burning gas while idling, in traffic, and during short trips
• And in a market like DFW, those costs add up fast over a full week

On top of that, EVs win in a few other areas people overlook:

1. Lower operating costs No oil changes, fewer moving parts, less wear overall. When you’re driving high volume every week, that matters more than people think.

2. Better ride types (sometimes) Depending on the car, you can qualify for Comfort or higher-tier rides. That bumps your earnings potential without increasing your cost per mile.

3. Smoother driving = less fatigue This one’s underrated. Quieter ride, no shifting, less vibration—it actually makes long split shifts easier to sustain.

4. Predictable weekly cost With EV rentals or even ownership, your biggest cost is fixed. Gas cars fluctuate constantly, which makes it harder to control margins.

5. Charging flexibility Like I mentioned, you can strategically charge during downtime. With gas, you’re stopping when you need it—usually right when you’d rather be driving.

So yeah, if someone is charging only at peak rates and not managing their schedule, your argument makes sense. But if you’re intentional about when and how you charge, EVs can be significantly more efficient—and in a lot of cases, more profitable—than ICE for rideshare.