New York City gives its taxis and VTCs seven years to go 100% electric

The energetic transition of the « yellow cab » circulating in the streets of New York City will accelerate. If a few hybrid and 100% electric vehicles are already in service, drive with zero-emission models will become the norm by 2030. The municipality and the New York Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) have reached an agreement to green the fleet in circulation. An evolution framed over time by a precise calendar.

From next year, 5% of trips carried out by taxi or VTC (the companies Lime and Uber having also signed the text) must be carried out using zero-emission or wheelchair-accessible vehicles. This share will pass to 15% in 2025then to 25% in 2026 and will increase by 20 points each year until 2030. A year in which only 100% electric vehicles will be able to provide passenger transport service.

Deployment of charging stations and purchase bonuses

To facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles, New York City plans to install 1,000 charging stations on its territory more 200 fast terminals and intends to require private garages and car parks to equip themselves with at least one charging infrastructure for electric vehicles.

At the same time, while switching from a thermal vehicle to an electric vehicle would represent an additional cost of around $20,000 for taxi drivers (and $10,000 for a vehicle adapted for people with reduced mobility), the authorities also announced the establishment of several purchasing aid mechanisms, without however specifying the contours of these devices, underlines The New York Post.