Tesla Model 3 Becomes 1st 100% Electric Taxi Cab Approved By NYC

Originally published on X Auto.
by Iqtidar Ali | @IqtidarAlii

Taxi Model 3

The City of New York (NYC) has put the Tesla Model 3 on the list of approved yellow cabs. The Model 3 is the first-ever all-electric car to make it on the list. Previously, some hybrid cars were on the list, such as the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and Ford Fusion Hybrid (see full list below).

Although the “Age of the Robotaxi” is a bit far in the future, it is a good start that different levels of governments around the world are recognizing electric cars as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel vehicles.

Right now, around the globe, Tesla vehicles are being used as ambulances and police cruisers until the Tesla ridesharing service is launched. Owners are also earning from their Teslas via Uber and similar services.

The use of electric taxis will reduce carbon emissions significantly, with an electric car’s emissions more than 3× lower than an internal combustion engine (ICE) car. The math for this was done by a redditor from the Tesla subreddit:

“70000 mi / 300 mi per charge = 233.33 charges per year 233.33 * 60 kWh per charge = 13999.8 kWh per year 13999.8 kWh * 1.22 lb of CO2 generated from the average grid load zone = 17080 lb of CO2 per Tesla taxi.

“However, 70000 mi / 25 mpg ICE taxi = 2800 gallons per year “2800 gallons per year * 19.64 lb of CO2 per gallon = 54992″ lb of CO2 per ICE taxi per year. So it is huge savings. 38k lb of savings.

“If NY commissions solar/wind capacity to service these cars or just follows through on their renewables targets then the carbon/air quality savings are even more pronounced if not zero.”

If taxi fleets in busy cities like New York and Los Angeles slowly shift towards electric mobility, we can save millions of tons of CO2 that would otherwise enter the atmosphere.

The City of London is taking keen action on this topic and has started a project in which they will be building 50,000 EV charging points by 2025. Also, by 2030 all new cars and vans sold in London will be fully electric — ICE car sales will be banned.

Featured image by CleanTechnica