Revel Transit
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric vehicle ridesharing |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Founder | Frank Reig, Paul Suhey |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | New York City, San Francisco, New Jersey (formerly Washington, D.C. and Miami) |
Key people | Frank Reig (CEO), Paul Suhey (COO) |
| Products | Electric mopeds, electric taxi services, EV charging infrastructure |
Number of employees | 150 (2024) |
| Website | www |
Revel is an electric vehicle ridesharing company headquartered in New York City, established in 2018 by Frank Reig (CEO) and Paul Suhey (COO). The firm initially launched a dockless electric moped pilot program in Brooklyn and Queens, quickly scaling its fleet to 1,000 mopeds by May 2019. Subsequently, Revel expanded its services to Washington, D.C., Miami, and San Francisco. After withdrawing from Washington and Miami in 2022, the company declared in November 2023 that it would discontinue moped operations to concentrate on its electric taxi services and EV charging infrastructure.
The company’s fleet is distinguished by vibrant blue vehicles displaying the Revel brand, including Tesla Model Ys and Kia electric models. Additionally, Revel manages several electric vehicle charging stations throughout New York City.
History
Revel was founded in 2018 and commenced with a 10-month pilot deploying 68 electric mopeds across Brooklyn and Queens. By May 2019, the fleet had expanded to 1,000 mopeds. In August 2019, the company initiated a pilot program involving 400 mopeds in Washington, D.C., entering a competitive environment featuring over 5,600 shared bikes and scooters. By mid-2019, Revel employed roughly 40 full-time workers in New York and 30 in Washington. Notably, the mopeds were leased from external owners rather than being company-owned assets.
In February 2021, Revel launched monthly subscription plans for electric bikes available throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. By April of the same year, operations extended to Miami and San Francisco following the company's exit from Oakland and Berkeley.
In July 2021, Revel secured authorization from New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission to introduce an all-electric taxi service. The initial deployment included 50 Tesla Model Ys starting in August, with the fleet expanding to over 500 electric vehicles serving New York and New Jersey by November 2023.
June 2021 marked the opening of Revel’s first public rapid charging station equipped with 25 chargers located in Brooklyn. As of July 2024, approximately 150 employees work at the company’s South Williamsburg headquarters. Currently operating three charging hubs within NYC, Revel plans an ambitious expansion to reach 200 stations by 2025 through collaboration with Uber.
On August 11, 2025, Revel announced it would discontinue its rideshare offerings to focus exclusively on developing its EV charging network.
Mopeds
Revel’s mopeds were produced by Chinese manufacturer NIU and priced between $3,000 and $5,000 each. Weighing approximately , these vehicles utilized dual lithium-ion batteries providing a range of about , with a maximum speed of . Revel staff conducted battery swaps for recharging purposes. Each moped was supplied with two helmets that were sanitized every two to three days. All mopeds were registered with the DMV and equipped with license plates.
Moped driving requirements
To operate a Revel moped, riders must be at least 18 years old possess a valid driver’s license and pay a $5 verification fee. Revel offers a complimentary half-hour rider training session; however, it faced criticism due to insufficient availability relative to user demand. Unlike other shared micro-mobility devices such as scooters or bikes which are often used on sidewalks, Revel’s mopeds are ridden and parked exclusively on roadways. Their use is prohibited on major highways and bridges.
Safety incidents and legal challenges
Revel Transit faced its first personal injury lawsuit in July 2019 after a collision between a driver and a bicyclist resulted in a severe ankle fracture requiring surgery. Authorities reported that the bicyclist pulled ahead of the left-turning Revel driver; however, the cyclist’s attorney contested this account, claiming the accident occurred during the driver’s turn. The complaint alleges that Revel did not adequately ensure users possessed sufficient skills or knowledge to safely operate mopeds due to delays in rider training.
On August 9, 2019, a Revel rider was involved in an accident with a rideshare vehicle; police indicated the rider ran a red light while eyewitnesses claimed the car was speeding through the intersection.
The first recorded crash involving a Revel bike in Washington, D.C., occurred on August 18, 2019. The rider fell after striking a pothole and sustained a broken collarbone. In response, Revel emphasized safety protocols including rider history verification, helmet provision, and free instructional sessions.
On August 31, 2019, two youths on a Revel moped fired shots at an Uber vehicle in D.C., causing injuries to the driver from shattered glass.
In July 2020 in New York City, two fatal incidents involving Revel mopeds occurred: reporter Nina Kapur died after falling off her moped without wearing a helmet; Jeremy Malave died from traumatic brain injury despite helmet use. Following these fatalities, Revel suspended its New York operations for one month before resuming service.