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The New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission has announced that the 400 for-hire electric vehicle licenses made available online on March 30th were filled in under 2 minutes, “mirroring the unprecedented demand for the 600 EV licenses that TLC opened to drivers on March 15“.
“A thousand EV licenses were successfully filled this month, and more than 100,000 applied for the waitlist,” a statement quoted TLC Commissioner David Do as saying. “The continuing demand is sending a very clear message that people want more TLC EV licenses. This will inform how we assess the release of future licenses. It is a very encouraging sign that the 100% electrification initiative that Mayor Adams announced in his State of the City address is being embraced by the for-hire vehicle industry.”
Out of the 1,000 licenses, the overwhelming majority—826—went to individuals. The remaining 174 were registered under business entities.
The 1,000 licenses released this month are part of the Mayor Eric Adams Administration’s effort to spur the development of the city’s electric charging infrastructure and support a cleaner, more sustainable future.
New York City has two million registered vehicles. More than 100,000 vehicles are licensed by TLC to serve the public, which includes 13,587 taxis. But the city’s transition to all electric will need big investment in the city’s EV charging infrastructure.
The purchase and use of electric vehicles in New York City is rising quickly, but the city’s public charging infrastructure leaves a lot to be desired — worse, even, than the rest of the country’s admittedly subpar network.