Revel ends rideshare service and shifts focus to EV charging

Revel chooses a new path

Revel has officially closed its ride-hailing service in New York City. The company announced this change in a message on its app and website, thanking riders for supporting them over the last four years.

Revel said it will now focus fully on electric vehicle fast-charging stations in major cities. This is another shift for the company, which started with electric scooter rentals in 2019.

From scooters to rideshare to charging

Revel began in 2019 as an electric moped rental business, and in 2021, it added ride-hailing services. The fleet consisted of bright blue Tesla and Kia electric cars operating in New York City.

The company is now ending this rideshare service to prioritize EV charging expansion. Its goal is to support the growing demand for electric transportation across major U.S. cities.

Statement from the CEO

Revel co-founder and CEO Frank Reig told TechCrunch that the company’s best way to push forward the EV transition is by ending rideshare operations. He explained that focusing on charging stations will have a greater impact on electrification in big cities.

Reig called this a “difficult decision” but necessary for the company’s future. He emphasized that more charging infrastructure is needed to keep electric adoption moving forward.

Competition in rideshare

According to The Verge, Revel struggled to compete with dominant players like Uber and Lyft in New York City. Uber and Lyft each complete more than 20 million trips per month, compared to Revel’s 100,000 monthly rides.

This large performance gap made it hard for Revel to scale profitably. Reig described the rideshare market as “very competitive and asset-heavy” with low profit margins.

Fleet sale plans

Bloomberg reported that Revel plans to sell or return its Tesla and Kia vehicles used for rideshare. The company will also sell 165 “for-hire vehicle license plates” linked to these cars.

According to CEO Frank Reig, each license plate could be worth between $20,000 and $25,000. This sale will help free up resources to expand the company’s charging network in key markets.

Early charging efforts

Revel introduced its first electric vehicle chargers in 2021, around the same time it launched its ride-hail fleet, according to TechCrunch. In early 2023, its charging network utilization was only 21%.

Most of that use came from the company’s rideshare vehicles. The slow start highlighted the need for outside partnerships to grow public charging demand.

Growth in charging use

By early 2025, Revel’s charger utilization rate had increased to 45%, as reported by Electrive. Only 12% of that usage came from the company’s fleet.

This growth was supported by partnerships that brought in more outside drivers. The shift showed that expanding beyond rideshare customers could make charging services more successful.

Uber partnership boost

TechCrunch reported that Uber made a deal in 2024 to send many of its drivers to Revel’s chargers. In exchange, drivers received discounts on charging sessions.

This agreement brought significantly more traffic to Revel’s stations in New York City. It also proved that working with other ride-hailing companies can help expand charging infrastructure.

Current charging network

Revel operates about 100 fast chargers split between sites in New York City and San Francisco. These chargers serve both rideshare drivers and the general public.

The company continues to expand in areas with high EV adoption rates. These charging hubs are central to its new business focus after ending rideshare.

Expansion plans for 2026

Revel aims to operate over 400 charging stalls in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco by the end of 2026. The company also has a long-term goal of reaching up to 2,000 stalls nationwide by 2030.

These plans represent a major investment in its charging network. Large, high-demand urban markets remain the main priority for expansion under this strategy.

New Los Angeles hub

Electrive reported that Revel will open a large fast-charging hub in Los Angeles next year. This will be the company’s first major location in the city.

The hub is designed to serve both the general public and rideshare drivers. It represents an important step in Revel’s plan to grow its charging presence in key U.S. cities.

Goodbye to mopeds

Revel shut down its e-moped rental business in San Francisco in 2023. The company was initially known for its neon-blue mopeds, launched in 2019.

Ending that service marked a move away from consumer vehicle rentals. Since then, Revel has shifted toward infrastructure that supports broader electric vehicle use in multiple cities.

Job model changes

According to Amny, Revel once directly employed its rideshare drivers. Later, the company transitioned to a contractor-based model similar to Uber and Lyft.

This change was intended to lower operating expenses within its rideshare business. Despite the adjustment, profitability challenges persisted, leading to the company’s eventual pivot toward EV charging infrastructure.

Ride-hail launch and growth

Revel introduced its all-electric ride-hailing service in 2021 with only 50 vehicles. The fleet eventually expanded to about 500 Tesla and Kia electric cars.

Although the service was unique for being entirely electric, it faced difficulty competing with larger rivals. The small share of the market made achieving significant growth without losses difficult.

Industry context

Bloomberg reported that charging infrastructure has become one of the most important needs in the rapidly growing EV market. Revel’s exit from rideshare aligns with this broader shift toward infrastructure investment.

By focusing on charging, the company is moving into a sector with strong industry demand. This decision positions it to benefit from the nationwide EV transition, potentially.

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Public messaging

Revel’s website now clearly states that its rideshare service has ended. The company’s message thanks customers for supporting the service over the past four years.

It also confirms plans to grow its fast-charging business with more sites and cities in the future. Similar announcements have been made on the Revel app to keep users updated.

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