As we push toward new initiatives and programs in 2024, we’re making history and strides across several sectors of our fleet.
In January, our Uber and Lyft drivers completed more than a million zero-emission rideshare trips in a single month for the first time. Kudos to all you zero-emissions heroes. It may have been the first time we’ve hit this milestone, but it will not be the last.
We hit that million milestone because we now have the largest zero-emissions rideshare fleet in the nation! In fewer than five months since passing the Green Rides Initiative, the EV fleet has grown by more than 300%. On top of that, our Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) trips also saw a 33% increase from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024. We now have nearly 10,000 accessible taxis and FHVs, the most in the agency’s history. That puts us two years ahead of schedule on our Green Rides goals, and means we’ve taken some very real strides in making our city more livable and sustainable.
Yellow taxis are also seeing more green, as well. Our overall yellow taxi trips are up 3.7% compared to the previous year, and in January, we had over 9,000 taxis in service – 1,000 more than at the same time last year and the first time this many have been operating since before the pandemic. Yellow daily revenue in the month of December 2023 was $2.7 million, which is 30% higher than the year before following the TLC’s first fare increase in a decade.
I’ve also been out and about the last few months, visiting Van Hailin’ events and the city’s existing fast-charging hubs. Many TLC EV drivers are overjoyed by their switch and share stories about energized passengers. Still, some ask me: Where are the chargers? I’m happy to report that last month, two new locations opened in areas that should have TLC drivers juiced up. In Manhattan, Gravity’s 24 500kW round-the-clock, 24-plug fast-charging site (401 West 42nd St) has capabilities of up to 500kW. It’s also open seven days a week with on-site attendants, and there is no fee to enter.
In Queens, five new Level 3 chargers have opened at the World’s Fair Marina parking lot, not far from Flushing Meadows Corona Park and adjacent to the Grand Central Parkway near LaGuardia at 109-5 Marina Road, Corona, NY 11368.
And that’s not all — more are still on the way. Revel, which recently announced a partnership to offer Uber EV drivers exclusive charging discounts in the city, has plans to build a new station with 48 new plugs near LaGuardia airport. For those of you considering making the switch as you replace vehicles, this is wonderful news as we get ever-so-closer to 2035 – when state law will require that all new vehicles sold in New York be zero emissions.
I’m encouraged as our industry continues its recovery while also hitting new milestones this year. Whether we’re driving new charging infrastructure or finding paths to increased accessibility, the TLC fleet will continue to push positive change for all New Yorkers.
See you out there,
David Do
Commissioner, NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission
