New Yorkers can now hail a Ford Mustang Mach-E zero-emission taxi—complete with custom monitors and a panoramic roof.
This week, sustainable mobility startup Gravity launched the first in its fleet of reimagined NYC yellow taxis, which is eventually expected to feature at least 50 all-electric Mach-E and Tesla Model Y vehicles.
Each Mach-E taxi boasts a panoramic roof for sightseeing, AI tech to identify and prevent distracted driving, and a 22-inch passenger display for taking selfies, playing music, watching videos, and adjusting climate controls. Of course, a coat of Rally Yellow paint and classic iconography has been applied to the EV.
“We’ve designed our fleet to be the smartest, safest, and most sustainable taxi to ever hit the road—something any New Yorker or visitor would be excited to flag down,” Gravity CEO Moshe Cohen said in a statement. “We want our advanced EV fleet to not only help reinvigorate the NYC yellow taxi, but help reenergize the city and pull it toward a cleaner future.”
It will be possible to hail one of Gravity’s EV yellow cabs on the street or via the standard mobile apps. All vehicles are authorized for use as taxis under an EV pilot program previously adopted by New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission; drivers are also licensed and approved by the TLC. The company plans to charge the vehicles overnight to maximize operating hours while allowing enough time for the batteries to recharge.
Gravity isn’t the first to deploy EVs as taxis. In 2019, NYC approved the Tesla Model 3 as the first electric vehicle to become a yellow cab. Earlier this year, the New York Post reported that moped sharing firm Revel won approval to launch 50 for-hire Tesla Model Y EVs across the city.
