Revel mopeds, once a common sight on the streets of New York City, will soon become a thing of the past. The Brooklyn-based company announced on Friday that it will end its operation of the bright blue two-wheelers on November 18, after five years of service.
According to Bobby Familiar, a spokesperson for Revel, the decision to end the mopeds was driven by a significant decline in ridership, making it unsustainable to continue operating them for another season. Familiar shared this information with Gothamist.
The news was initially reported by TechCrunch, which also revealed that Revel will lay off 67 employees. Familiar stated that the company will now focus on its all-electric vehicle rideshare service, combined with the establishment of public fast charging stations.
Revel launched in 2018 with a small fleet of electric mopeds based out of its Bushwick storefront. It quickly expanded to other cities such as San Francisco, Miami, and Washington, D.C., and at its peak, it had 3,000 mopeds spread across the five boroughs of New York City, as well as its other markets.
However, the demand for Revel mopeds significantly declined in 2022, resulting in the company’s withdrawal from certain markets. Currently, Revel mopeds are only available in San Francisco and New York.
In July 2020, Revel temporarily suspended its operations in New York City following the tragic deaths of two riders. However, the company resumed its services a month later after implementing stricter safety measures.
While ending its moped business, Revel is expanding in other areas such as rideshare services and the development of “superhubs” for charging electric vehicles. On November 1, Revel inaugurated a 24-hour charging station at Queens Plaza in Long Island City, which was attended by company officials and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. Familiar revealed that similar public infrastructure will be introduced to other areas in the next year, including the South Bronx, Harlem, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. These stations will be particularly beneficial for rideshare drivers transitioning to electric vehicles as part of the City’s Green Rides Initiative.
In his letter addressed to Revel’s moped riders, CEO and co-founder Frank Reig expressed his gratitude for those who have joined them on this journey. Reig mentioned that in New York, Revel now operates 500 electric vehicles through over 1,500 employee drivers, offering rides across all five boroughs. While mopeds have been a significant part of Revel’s story, Reig acknowledged their contribution as a fun mode of transportation in the city.
Reig concluded by extending his appreciation to all the individuals who supported Revel throughout its operations.
