Revel Hailing Tesla Cabs Into NYC

NEW YORK CITY — Revel will hail 50 blue Tesla cabs into Manhattan after winning reluctant approval from the city, the rideshare company announced Monday.

The cabs will start taking riders Aug. 2 below 42nd Street, according to a Revel release.

“The initial response from the public has been overwhelming, and we can’t wait to start serving New Yorkers who care as much about the City’s future as we do,” Frank Reig, the company's CEO and co-founder, said in a release. “With our all-electric rideshare fleet and fast-charging Superhub network, we're investing in a zero-carbon transportation future."

Reig thanked the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission in his statement — a note of graciousness that belied a dispute between Revel and the commission.

Revel — which has long offered electric scooters in the city— announced their taxi plans in the spring. But TLC officials cried foul that Revel did so under an electric vehicle exemption and threatened to add yet more cars to the city's crowded roads.

The loophole has since been closed, but not before Revel got approval from the city.

The blue taxis not only will be all-electric, but all-employee, according to a Revel release. Other rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft consider their drivers independent contractors, but the people behind Revel's wheels will be considered employees.

The fleet will also be owned and maintained by the company, rather than the drivers, a release states.

About 1,200 people applied to become drivers — and the taxi fleet will launch with 125 drivers and 25 fleet and driver operations employees who have guaranteed wages and access to benefits, according to the company.

Likewise, 50,000 people signed up for a waitlist to become riders, according to Revel. The rideshare service still has a waitlist because of demand, according to the company. New Yorkers can sign up in an app and learn more at gorevel.com.