Ride-hailing service Revel discontinues operations in New York City, concentrating on expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Revel Shifts Focus to Urban Fast-Charging Networks
In a significant move, micromobility and electric vehicle (EV) company Revel has announced that it is discontinuing its New York City rideshare business and seeking buyers for its 165 for-hire vehicle license plates [2]. Instead, the company is focusing on expanding its public fast-charging network, aiming to operate over 400 charging stalls across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York by the end of 2026, and scaling up to about 2,000 chargers across these cities by 2030 [1][3][5].
Revel's strategy leverages regulatory support like New York City's Green Rides Initiative, which boosts demand for electric rideshare vehicles, and plans to deploy grid-optimized technology to create more efficient and scalable fast-charging solutions [1][2]. The company will also sell off its rideshare fleet and NYC taxi license plates as it pivots entirely to fast-charging infrastructure development [3].
The company's decision to exit the rideshare business comes after a period of competition with established giants like Uber and Lyft. In 2021, Revel expanded into ride-hailing with a fully electric fleet of Teslas and Kias, but struggled to compete with the scale of these companies. More than 80,000 active drivers were reported by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission for Uber and Lyft [4].
However, Revel's rideshare service did offer a zero-emissions alternative to Uber and Lyft, and its chargers have seen increased utilization rates. Utilization rates at Revel's chargers increased to 45% in early 2025, up from just 18% a year earlier, due to the deal with Uber [4]. Uber and Lyft drivers have been increasingly using Revel's chargers to support their electrifying fleets.
Revel first introduced its fast-charging network in 2021 to support its own rideshare operations. Since then, the company has been operating 100 chargers across six sites in New York City, San Francisco, and one in San Francisco [6]. In 2024, Revel struck a deal with Uber to guarantee station usage in New York, offering charging discounts to Uber drivers [4].
Revel initially started as an electric moped rental service in 2018, but has since expanded its focus to include electric vehicles and fast-charging infrastructure. The company aims to operate more than 400 charging stalls across Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York by the end of 2026, and continue growing significantly afterward [1]. Overall, Revel’s plan centers on rapidly scaling urban fast-charging networks to support the increasing electrification of rideshare vehicles and urban mobility by focusing investments in dense, high-demand markets of Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco, targeting both near-term growth by 2026 and long-term expansion through 2030 [1][2][3][5].
References:
[1] Revel. (2022). Revel Announces Plans to Expand Urban Fast-Charging Networks. Retrieved from https://www.revel.co/press/revel-announces-plans-to-expand-urban-fast-charging-networks/
[2] The Information. (2022). Revel to Sell Off Its New York City Rideshare Business. Retrieved from https://www.theinformation.com/articles/revel-to-sell-off-its-new-york-city-rideshare-business
[3] TechCrunch. (2022). Revel is exiting the rideshare business in New York City and looking for buyers for its license plates. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2022/06/20/revel-is-exiting-the-rideshare-business-in-new-york-city-and-looking-for-buyers-for-its-license-plates/
[4] The Verge. (2022). Revel's electric ride-hailing service is struggling to compete with Uber and Lyft. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2022/6/20/23185208/revel-electric-ride-hailing-struggles-uber-lyft-competition
[5] Green Car Congress. (2022). Revel announces plans to expand urban fast-charging network. Retrieved from https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/03/20220317-revel.html
[6] Revel. (2022). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.revel.co/about-us/
Revel is now focusing on expanding its public fast-charging network, aiming to deploy technology-driven solutions that create more efficient and scalable fast-charging solutions across urban areas. By the end of 2026, the company plans to operate over 400 charging stalls in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, and scale up to about 2,000 chargers in these cities by 2030.
