NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – The yellow taxi industry in New York City could look very different later.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission is proposing a pilot program to make room for more electric taxis, CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis reported Monday.
CONTINUE READING: MTA will resume 24-hour subway service on May 17, says Governor Cuomo
In many yellow taxis, Vincent Thomas chooses to drive green in a Tesla taxi.
(Credit: CBS2)
“No gasoline, no engine check, no transmission problems,” said Thomas.
Thomas has been a taxi driver for 20 years. He has been behind the wheel of the electric car for several weeks.
“When I’m on the taxi line, they get out of the car and come to my car instead of getting into a car they’re allowed to get in,” said Thomas.
He rents it from United Taxi Management, which has a total of four Tesla taxis. The company’s president is getting more electric cars.
“It is definitely the way of the future,” said Savis Tsitiridis.
He said the cars come with less maintenance and more safety.
“We control the speed limit from here,” said Tsitiridis when he showed DeAngelis the technology. “Even if the diver takes his foot off the break, the car won’t roll.”
“It will reduce the number of accidents,” he said.
CONTINUE READING: NYPD searches for suspects in brutal attack in Brooklyn
The Tesla Model 3 is the only electric taxi approved for use in New York City. There are currently a dozen, but the Taxi and Limousine Commission is proposing a year-long pilot program to expand the battery-electric models approved for use.
(Credit: CBS2)
“There are cost savings if the vehicle is charged instead of spending $ 25-30 per shift,” Tsitiridis said.
He set up two charging stations at a nearby car wash, but said in order to increase the number of Tesla taxis, chargers would need to be strategically placed across the city.
The executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance sees benefits but also raises concerns for the warring industry.
“What they really need is not a new vehicle model. You need significant debt relief. This should really be the entire focus of the city, ”said Bhairavi Desai.
Desai is also concerned about what will happen to the accessible service.
“The yellow cab industry has more accessible vehicles than any other sector in the industry,” she said. “If there are more EVs, more fuel-efficient vehicles – which is a great thing for drivers, don’t get me wrong – but the problem is, what will happen to accessible services across the board?”
The TLC board will vote on the pilot program on Tuesday.
“You know, Uber and Lyft and all these trips together cost a lot of our business. But Teslas comes in, then I think more people will be going back to yellow cabs, ”said Thomas.
MORE NEWS: Hoboken Mulling proposal that would ban city-elected leaders blocking people on social media
Electric vehicle company Revel recently announced that it is offering a ride-sharing service with Tesla in New York City.