Visitors and residents of New York City will soon be able to hail a very special taxi in the form of a Ford Mustang Mach-E. Gravity, a startup focusing on electric infrastructure and fleets, has launched the first vehicle in its program to turn all New York City taxis into battery-electric vehicles. The company says that riders will experience the most advanced taxis while still retaining the same fare as a typical yellow cab.
Gravity says that the Ford Mustang Mach-E taxis will have panoramic glass roofs, industry-leading safety technologies, and a customized passenger experience. In total, Gravity will operate 50 vehicles combined between Mach-Es and the Tesla Model Ys. The vehicles will feature a 22-inch display behind the front seats allowing passengers to watch videos, play music, adjust the climate controls, and access social media. Every car will be painted in Rally Yellow and be equipped with driver-facing artificial intelligence technologies to prevent distracted driving.
New Yorkers and visitors to the area will be able to hail a Mach-E or Model Y taxi on the streets or via an app. The vehicles will be charged overnight at Gravity’s Midtown Manhattan facility on 42nd street to maximize the hours vehicles are on the road and carrying passengers. The charging depot has been optimized so that it’s compatible with a wide range of models, enabling them to replenish their batteries in minutes.
“We’ve designed our fleet to be the smartest, safest, and most sustainable taxi to ever hit the road — something any New Yorker or visitor would be excited to flag down,” said Moshe Cohen, Founder and CEO of Gravity, Inc. We want our advanced EV fleet to not only help reinvigorate the NYC yellow taxi but help re-energize the city and pull it toward a cleaner future.”
Following the Mach-E, Gravity will deploy the Model Y into the taxi fleet once it finishes final inspections. All of the vehicles are authorized for use as taxis as part of an EV pilot program that New York City’s Taxi and Limousine Commission adopted earlier this year. The passenger area with the 22-inch display has been designed so that riders can get the most out of their time in the vehicle. Drivers operating Gravity’s fleet of Mach-Es and Model Ys have also been licensed and approved by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.
Gravity didn’t disclose what variant of the Mach-E they’re using but based on the photos, we can tell it’s the longest-range version, the California Route 1 Edition. The giveaways are the black 18-inch alloy wheels, which are intended to make the crossover more aerodynamic, increasing its driving range on a single charge. For 2022, the Mach-E’s batteries now use more of their capacity, resulting in increased range. In the case of the California Route 1 Edition, the single-motor RWD version is good for 314 miles. The new dual-motor variant is rated for 312 miles per charge. Single-motor models are rated at 290 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque while dual-motor cars are good for 346 hp and 428 lb-ft.
Like the Mach-E, Gravity likely chose the Model Y that can travel the farthest on a single charge. The Model Y Long Range is EPA-rated at 326 miles per charge. Both vehicles can also charge quite quickly with the Model Y able to DC charge at rates of up to 250 kW. Extended Range Mustang Mach-E’s have a peak charging rate of 150 kW.
