Tesla Model 3 has been approved for cabbies in this city
The Tesla Model 3 sedan was approved by New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission as one of a handful of cars, vans and SUVs permitted to operate as a yellow cab.
The car, the first all-electric model approved by the taxi commission, can be used as cab use and as a for-hire vehicle.
Who submitted the request for certification of a Model 3 to the commission wasn't immediately clear. A commission spokesperson told Autoblog that the identity of the person who submitted the Model 3 wasn't known, and it wasn't clear the name could be released if it was.
The taxi commission did not immediately respond to a voicemail from FOX Business.
Electrek, which first reported the news, explained that to become a yellow cab, vehicles need to complete the taxi commission certification and inspection process.
FORD TO KILL FORD FLEX SPORTS-UTILITY CAR, LAY OFF 450 WORKERS
| Ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSLA | TESLA INC. | 345.16 | +12.27 | +3.69% |
The Model 3 would need to be painted in the distinctive yellow of all Big Apple cabs and fitted with other equipment, like a meter.
Cabbies can expect to drive about 70,000 miles a year and 9.5 hours a shift, according to the 2014 Taxicab Factbook. Model 3 has a 322-mile range, according to Tesla. Assuming the cabbie has a five-day workweek, and the 70,000 miles a year is still a good estimate, a driver can expect to drive about 269 miles a day.
That said, knowing when and where to charge up will be key. There are only five supercharging sites in Manhattan, according to Tesla.
This isn't the first time that New York has had electric taxis. The first horseless cabs were battery-powered cars, according to the Autoblog. The Electrobat was introduced in 1896 and ran well into the 20th Century, according to the blog.
And this isn’t the first time Tesla cars will be used as taxis. An Ohio firm added 10 Model 3s to their fleet in 2018. And a Tesla cab in Canada has been running since 2014.
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Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has promised to launch a network of a million autonomous taxis by 2020. the company's stock is up five percent on the year, according to Marketwatch.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price starts around $35,000, according to Edmunds.