Revel is undergoing a significant shift by discontinuing its electric moped service in New York City and San Francisco. In an email to the company's entire staff, CEO and co-founder Frank Reig shared the decision, as reported by TechCrunch, stating that "the service has been strained, and ridership isn't what it used to be." Additionally, Revel has communicated with its riders via email, informing them that the service will cease operations on November 18 and recommending they use any remaining account credits before that date.
TechCrunch points out that Revel had already withdrawn its moped service from other markets in 2022, leaving approximately 3,000 mopeds still in operation in NYC and San Francisco. A company spokesperson informed TechCrunch that ridership had declined by 30 percent in both remaining cities year-over-year, making it financially unsustainable to continue that segment of their business.
Revel had faced temporary suspensions of its moped service on multiple occasions due to safety concerns. Notably, in 2020, the service was temporarily halted after an accident resulted in the tragic loss of two customers' lives while using Revel vehicles. The service was reinstated after implementing a mandatory in-app safety test and requiring riders to capture a selfie while wearing a helmet. Additionally, Revel had removed its mopeds from the Bronx for over a year due to a series of battery thefts.
Looking ahead, Revel is redirecting its focus to its electric vehicle (EV) ride-hailing service, which is operated by employee drivers across New York City's five boroughs. The company also has plans to expand its network of EV fast-charging stations in New York and the Bay Area.