Another pivot for Revel: the NYC startup that began with electric scooters in 2019, then moved into bright-blue Teslas and Kias for ride-hailing, is officially out of the ride-share game.
As of this week, Revel has permanently closed its ride-hail service to focus entirely on building fast-charging infrastructure for EVs in major U.S. cities.
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CEO Frank Reig says the move is the best way to “keep the EV transition moving forward.”
The company will sell off its fleet and 165 NYC taxi license plates (valued at up to $25K each) while expanding its charging footprint. Revel’s chargers, first launched in 2021, saw slow adoption early on, but utilization jumped from 21% in early 2023 to 45% by early 2025, thanks in part to a 2024 deal with Uber to send drivers their way.
By the end of 2026, Revel plans to operate over 400 charging stalls across Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.
