Is an EV Revolution About to Begin in the NYC Taxi Industry? TLC Approves EV Pilot

From Revel's announcement of an all-EV ridehailing service to yellow cab garages increasingly embracing EVs, is the EV revolution is beginning in the NYC TLC industry

We’ve been writing a lot about EVs lately. For example, below are the last 6 articles we’ve written on the topic since February!

1. Electric Moped Startup Revel Set to Launch Uber Rival with Tesla Model Y Fleet (April 28th)

2. Second Tesla Yellow Cab Fleet Emerges With On Site Fast Charging (March 25th)

3. Tesla Model 3 NYC Yellow Cab Fleet Continues to Grow (March 8th)

4. Ample Launches Battery Swapping Program Targeting Uber Drivers to Promote EV Adoption (March 4th)

5. Time It Takes To Repair Tesla May Prevent Widespread Adoption in NYC TLC Industry (February 8th)

6. Revel Plans EV Charging Hub in Brooklyn (February 3rd)

Usually when you find yourself writing or discussing something a lot it’s probably indicative of a change that’s happening. Today, the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission approved a NYC Taxi EV Pilot, expanding the ability for yellow cab garages and medallion owners to experiment with electric vehicles outside of the Tesla Model 3, thus far the only EV approved for the medallion industry. The key takeaways from the Pilot are as follows:

• The TLC Chairperson has a lot of power/discretion to decide who’s approved for the Pilot or when the Pilot ends. If I am reading between the lines, this indicates to me that Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk is strongly backing this initiative, but wants full control to ensure the program doesn’t have any unintended consequences

• One of the fears the TLC seems to have, which I think is well founded, revolves around acceleration rates on EVs (i.e. torque). The Pilot mentions limitations around horsepower and that no BEV should be able to do 0-60mph faster than 4.4 seconds! In addition, it requires drivers to be trained in operating an EV

The Pilot is set to last for a maximum of 12 months after which a final report will be published. While there is a big push to electrify the NYC yellow cab fleet, a well publicized dispute has erupted between EV transport startup Revel and the TLC - CNN even covered the story! The TLC is basically accusing Revel of taking advantage of the EV exemption on the FHV License Pause (i.e. TLC Plate Cap) it left so electric vehicles could be added to the NYC for-hire vehicle fleet. Revel is saying this should be a “slam dunk” for a City that is trying to promote EV adoption!

"This is as much of a slam dunk for the city administration and the [Taxi & Limousine Commission] as it can be," [Revel CEO Frank Reig ] said. "In terms of city administration goals and TLC goals, and what they'd like rideshare companies to do, we're doing everything."

The city isn't convinced.

"TLC capped for-hire vehicles because supply already exceeds demand. The electric battery exemption exists to encourage already-licensed cars to go green, not to flood an already saturated market or to disenfranchise the Yellow Taxi sector in Manhattan. This ride-share scheme deviates from the spirit of those rules," New York City's Taxi & Limousine Commission Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk said in a statement. - CNN

I think we are in the top of the first inning of a long game. In other words, we are at the beginning of an EV revolution! What do you think? Is it still too early? Too many unknowns? Not enough charging infrastructure (especially Level 3 fast chargers)? Would you buy an EV for the NYC TLC industry? Why or why not?

AutoMarketplace NYC Newsletter is written by Dawood Mian, Founder & CEO of AutoMarketplace. He covers the NYC for-hire transportation industry and related news. Search AutoMarketplace for cars, parts, tires, technicians, body shops, reviews, jobs & more. Find great deals at TLCMKT.COM (new site AutoMarketplace.io to be launched soon, sign-up to the newsletter if you are interested to learn more ahead of launch)