Since Uber rolled into Boston more than a year ago, I’ve truly treated the service like my own personal driver, opening the app and hailing a black car with the touch of a button. Flagging taxis on the street corner now feels like an archaic means of getting around, yet despite the convenience, my wallet takes a serious hit every time I use Uber.

As if the company read my mind, I received an email about the launch of UberX, the company’s answer to those of us seeking more affordable rides. An UberX ride will cost around 40 percent less than Uber black cars, starting at a base fare of $5 with a minimum fare of $10.

The company will begin building out its Boston UberX fleet, which will offer “mid-range vehicles in a variety of colors with seating for up to four people.”

For Boston users, UberX is now in beta, and users can opt in to the service here to be placed on the launch list.

The company began testing UberX in New York and San Francisco last summer. In those cities, UberX fleets are hybrid vehicles, so not only are they cheaper, they’re better for the environment, as well. As The Next Web points out, the cars look like regular vehicles, resulting in much less fanfare than is associated with Uber black cars (check out that link for photos of UberX vehicles).

On the cheaper end of things, Uber also launched Uber TAXI in Boston in September 2012, allowing customers to “e-hail” a taxi via the app. The fares are calculated using the in-vehicle taximeter on each vehicle, and a $1 “TAXI” fee and 20 percent gratuity are added onto the final amount. Uber TAXI fares are cheaper than Uber’s black car services and, comparatively, UberX will fall in the middle.

We’ve reached out to Uber for more information, and we’ll update this piece once we hear back.