On Tuesday, electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and sustainable mobility firm Gravity announced that it is part of the first-ever zero-emission, fleet-based taxi service and distributed Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) charging infrastructure, which will pilot in New York City this spring. The fleet of Tesla Model Y BEV’s will be available to riders via street hailing and on-demand booking at current yellow cab pricing levels, which the company says will provide cutting-edge in-cabin passenger experience and ensure equitable compensation to the drivers of its fleet.
In an announcement of the pilot program on Tuesday, Gravity said it “has been and will continue to work in concert with” regulators, city and state agencies and corporations, utility companies, real estate owners and other stakeholders, affirming that is an initial supporter of the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission’s pilot to road test BEVs with immediate acceleration and the removal of horsepower (HP) limitations.
Beyond EV’s
“What Gravity is bringing to New York City is beyond electric vehicles; these will be the taxis of the future, and the charging spaces of the future,” Gravity CEO Moshe Cohen said in an official comment. “We’ve found a pragmatic approach to sustainable transportation that’s focused on health, safety, and the passenger experience. Gravity is proud to have spearheaded a business model that’s made for people and provides for the technology needs of the modern commuter and BEV owner. NY Yellow Taxis are an opportunity to make significant innovations in BEV fleets and public charging infrastructure, all while creating fair and incentive compatible working conditions for drivers.”
Gravity says all vehicles in this largest of its kind fleet will be equipped with a fully licensed and approved array of technology, including 22″ interactive screens with a full suite of in-cabin media and applications, Wi-Fi, artificial intelligence which monitors and corrects driver behavior, and night vision enabled 360° surround view cameras all which integrate with Tesla’s advanced vehicle safety technology.
Gravity says that while the pilot was in development stages, it scoured every borough in New York City, block-by-block, together with Con Edison, to identify different sites capable of installing next-generation fast-charging infrastructure and equipment, while taking into account the complex requirements of layout, power limitations, average duration and time of day charging, and utility rates. All Gravity charging spaces will be available to the public for 16-24 hours a day, and have been specifically tailored to the specific installation site and use case, hidden within the designs at each site.
At core of Gravity’s business is a driver model, which strives to creates a market where drivers always exceed current TLC regulated earnings (in addition to various other financial incentive opportunities), while still retaining the discretion to create their own schedule and independence to make other business decisions.
