If you’re a curious New York City resident or visitor, you’ve likely heard the faint hum of traction motors emanating from electric cars with Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) registration plates.

Mostly Tesla Model 3s and Model Ys, but also some Toyota bZ4xs and Polestar 2s among others, these EVs are everywhere in the five boroughs of the world’s financial and cultural capital. They ferry customers in near-silence, leaving no trail of no planet-warming fumes. Nearly 25,000 all-electric and hybrid Uber, Lyft and other rideshare cars now ply in NYC and these drivers are going all guns blazing with usage rates.

The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission—the agency responsible for licensing and regulating yellow taxi cabs and for-hire vehicles (FHVs), commuter vans, and paratransit vehicles—announced yesterday that rideshare EV trips surpassed two million in March alone. That’s double from a million trips covered in January.

This comes after the City of New York passed its Green Rides Initiative, mandating all new for-hire vehicles (FHV) to be electric from November 2023 onwards. The rules led to a sudden surge in FHV license applications, with NYC TLC’s daily intake soaring from 150 to 2,000 applications overnight, a TLC spokesperson told InsideEVs early this year.

From an emissions perspective, these rules are reaping huge benefits. Since November, monthly EV trips increased fivefold, from 362,000 before.

EV trips in the first three months of the year have saved some 6,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, covering 25 million miles in zero emissions trips. That’s the equivalent of saving 731,000 gallons of gas, according to the NYC TLC. It’s also equivalent to “carbon sequestered by 107,000 tree seedlings for about 10 years.”

• Two million EV rideshare trips in March 2024.
• 25 million zero-emissions miles covered.
• 731,000 gallons of gas saved in Q1 2024.

The Green Rides Initiative initially aimed to electrify five percent of the rideshare fleet in 2024, increasing to 15 percent in 2025. However, due to an overwhelming response from FHV drivers, NYC TLC attained that goal in January 2024, two years ahead of schedule—the current penetration of electric and wheelchair-accessible vehicle (WAV) trips stands at 17%.

When TLC passed the new rules in October 2023, thousands of drivers jumped at Teslas. But an InsideEVs investigation found that they were getting little charging support in return.

At one Tesla Supercharger in Brooklyn, drivers were waiting up to 90 minutes to recharge their EVs due to long lines and limited charging options with no parking fees. This left them frustrated, as some of them were losing up to two hours of business daily due to “traffic jams” at overcrowded charging stations.

Realizing the massive need to improve these drivers’ charging experience, the TLC and the City of New York are slowly investing in charging infrastructure.

Recently, ride-hail startup Revel—which operates neon blue Teslas in the city—announced a project to build the largest fast-charging site by an airport in the U.S. It will be located at the LaGuardia airport in Queens. Google-backed charging start-up Gravity’s 500-kilowatt round-the-clock fast-charging site opened in February in Times Square—this one is the fastest charging station in the U.S.—InsideEVs tried it out recently.

The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) also recently opened five new Level 3 chargers at the World’s Fair Marina parking lot, close to the Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens.

Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com

New York City’s Electric Rideshare Cars Surpass Two Million Trips In March

New York City’s electric rideshare cars have hit a milestone in March, surpassing two million trips in a single month. This significant achievement highlights the growing popularity and success of electric rideshare services in the city, as more New Yorkers continue to embrace sustainable transportation options.

The increase in ridership of electric rideshare cars can be attributed to various factors, including rising awareness of environmental issues, government incentives for electric vehicle adoption, and the convenience and affordability of ridesharing services. With the city’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, the surge in electric rideshare trips is a positive step towards achieving these goals.

The success of electric rideshare cars in New York City also underscores the shift towards a more sustainable transportation system. By choosing electric vehicles over traditional gasoline-powered cars, riders are not only reducing their carbon footprint but also supporting the development of cleaner and greener transportation alternatives.

Furthermore, the convenience and accessibility of electric rideshare services have made it easier for New Yorkers to navigate the city without the need for owning a personal vehicle. This has led to a decrease in traffic congestion and parking issues, as more residents opt for ridesharing as a primary mode of transportation.

As the demand for electric rideshare cars continues to grow, it is essential for city officials and policymakers to support initiatives that promote the adoption of electric vehicles. This includes investing in charging infrastructure, providing incentives for rideshare drivers to transition to electric cars, and implementing policies that encourage more sustainable transportation choices.

In conclusion, the milestone of two million trips taken by electric rideshare cars in New York City in March is a testament to the success of these services in providing a sustainable and convenient transportation option for residents. As the city continues to strive towards a more environmentally friendly future, the rise of electric rideshare services serves as a shining example of how technology and innovation can help create a greener and more sustainable urban environment.