From Hybrid to High-Tech: Fikru's Toyota bZ4X Upgrade with Splend

Talk to any experienced Uber driver and they’ll tell you that PCO driving demands efficiency, reliability, and smart cost management. In a recent testimonial, Fikru, a seasoned Uber driver and Splend customer with over 10 years of experience, shared his transition from an aging Toyota Prius Plus to a cutting-edge electric Toyota bZ4X Motion. With the help of Splend’s all-inclusive package and support, he made the switch smoothly and hasn’t looked back.

The Challenge: Running costs of an aging vehicle

Fikru’s hybrid had begun showing signs of wear and tear from years of use. Keeping up with the cars maintenance costs were also eating into his profits.

As a full-time Uber driver, he needed a cost-effective, reliable, and future-proof solution, and that’s when he came across the Toyota bZ4X Motion through Splend. A long-range, all-electric SUV, the bZ4X stood out for its style, comfort, safety, and performance, traits Fikru knew would impress both him and his passengers.

Why Fikru chose Splend

More than just a vehicle provider, Splend offered Fikru a complete ownership solution tailored for PCO drivers.

Rather than juggling multiple providers for maintenance, insurance, and MOT paperwork, everything was included in one weekly payment.

Splend's all-inclusive package includes:

• The option to own the vehicle at the end of the term

• PHV licence, car tax and MOT

• PHV damage and loss cover

• Scheduled servicing and maintenance

• Replacement tyres and brakes

• Free PCO-ready courtesy vehicle

• 24/7 roadside assistance

• Up to 4 weeks payment holiday annually

• Dedicated customer support

• Referral rewards

Fikru credits Splend's expert team (especially Duane at the Green Light Hub) for making the process seamless. With a detailed, transparent explanation of what his weekly costs included, he felt empowered to make a smart, informed decision. Within two weeks, he was behind the wheel of his new bZ4X Motion.

“The single weekly payment has made everything much easier”

Toyota bZ4X: A Game-Changer for Fikru

Fikru’s top highlights:

• Reliability – Toyota’s trusted brand reputation gave him peace of mind

• Low running costs – Helping him increase take-home earnings

• Spaciousness – Generous boot space and legroom perfect for work and family

• Tech – 360° camera, advanced infotainment, and user-friendly features

• Winter-ready – Thanks to heat pump tech, his real-world range reaches roughly 270 miles in winter and up to 340 miles in summer

Watch our virtual walkthrough video below to see these features for yourself.

Smart Charging Strategies

Before switching to an EV, Fikru researched London’s charging network using tools like ZapMap. He learned that London now has over 7,000 charging stations, this helped him developed a better understanding of the current charging network and he gained more knowledge of key postcodes helping to preplan his driving routes.

Fikru also refined his charging strategies by participating in online forums and Uber driver WhatsApp groups. His research highlighted the importance of managing battery life and planning routes in advance, particularly for longer trips. By integrating brief 15–30-minute charging stops into his daily schedule and using his downtime to charge, Fikru has very successfully maximised his efficiency and minimised range anxiety while increasing his earnings.    

The Splend Advantage

Splend gives drivers what they really need; support, transparency, and simplicity. For Fikru, the biggest difference was having everything taken care of by people who understand the demands of PCO driving.

“Everything's in one place”

Fikru values Splend’s all-in-one simplicity above all. Instead of tracking costs, scheduling appointments, or shopping around for service, he just focuses on driving.

He also took advantage of Splend’s referral program, now earning £200 for each friend he brings on board.

His advice? “Come and see. Everything you need is in one place. All the responsibilities are with Splend— they take care of everything.”

About Splend

At Splend, we believe in drivers. We know their vehicles need to work harder than most; that they drive more miles than most; that their insurance is hefty; their maintenance costs high and that they can face unreasonable finance rates – which is a heavy load to carry on their own.

That’s why at Splend, we exist to support rideshare drivers with a new model, that takes all those car ownership costs, and provides them for less, with lower purchase prices, better rates, lower servicing and insurance costs – all for one weekly repayment, all in one place.