From Electrobat to NV200: The Electrifying History and Uncertain Future of NYC’s Electric Taxis

In the 1890s, believe it or not, New York City's renowned collection of cabs featured electric vehicles. However, to discover these early EVs, one must delve into the history books, well over a hundred years ago.

According to a recent piece by National Geographic, the 1890s saw a surge in the use of electric cabs within the metropolis. The number of these taxis expanded rapidly, from just 12 in 1897 to more than a hundred by 1899. This historical snapshot underscores the fact that electric vehicles aren't a modern-day creation. While there have been vast improvements in the technology, the attributes that attract people to electric vehicles have largely stayed the same over time.

According to National Geographic, the Electrobat, a vehicle from the 1800s, was deemed perfect for taxis due to its rapid speed increase and silent operation. The immediate power delivery from electric motors and the absence of tailpipe noise have won over numerous fans of contemporary electric vehicles.

In April 2013, a 2013 Nissan Leaf electric vehicle underwent trials as a cab in New York

Nonetheless, electric cabs hold the dubious distinction of being linked to two regrettable pioneering incidents. It is said that in May 1899, cab operator Jason German had the dubious honor of becoming the first automobile driver to be apprehended for exceeding the speed limit when he was recorded traveling at a brisk 12 miles per hour on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

In that year, a different cab operator was involved in an incident that is believed to be the initial case of a pedestrian death caused by a vehicle. The worry that individuals on foot may fail to notice the approach of silent electric vehicles re-emerged during the 2010s. This resulted in the introduction of rules mandating noise-making devices for the purpose of alerting pedestrians on all electric and hybrid vehicles.

The electric taxis that roamed New York in the 1890s emerged during an era of automotive innovation, where electricity was one of the competing sources of power alongside internal combustion and steam. Electric and steam vehicles enjoyed a period of favor until the advent of gasoline-powered cars, which, along with their refueling systems, eventually outpaced the others in terms of ease of use.

Initial Nissan NV200 Debuts in New York

In the 2010s, as electric vehicles gained traction once again as a potential substitute for traditional fuel engines, New York City contemplated reintroducing them. Around 2012, the city's lawmakers started advocating for electric-powered cabs, but apprehensions regarding charging infrastructure prompted them to think about hybrid vehicles as an alternative. Concurrently, the city was executing the doomed "Taxi of Tomorrow" initiative, which aimed to establish the Nissan NV200 van as the standard cab across New York, although it failed to consider hybrid or fully electric models for the fleet.

Nissan's NV200 didn't manage to dominate the New York taxi market as anticipated. Nowadays, the city's taxi lineup includes numerous hybrid vehicles and a selection of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the appeal of EVs to taxi companies might diminish since the suggested exemption for EVs from the upcoming congestion charges in the city seems to have been unsuccessful.

There are questions surrounding the rate of advancement towards electrifying New York City's municipal vehicles by 2040, a target established by an executive order from previous Mayor Bill de Blasio, especially given the leadership of the current Mayor, Eric Adams.

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