Q&A
Efforts to introduce wheelchair accessible electric vehicles
0:57:37
·
81 sec
Commissioner David Do discusses the TLC's efforts to introduce wheelchair accessible electric vehicles to the market and the challenges they face.
- The TLC has engaged with manufacturers and medallion owners to explore the future of wheelchair accessible electric vehicles.
- Manufacturers currently don't see a pressing need for these vehicles, but the TLC is working to educate them about the large market in New York City.
- The TLC hopes that as electric and wheelchair accessible vehicles become more common, there will be a 'synergistic future' for electric wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Amanda Farías
0:57:37
And then what is TLC doing right now to study how to bring wheelchair accessible electric vehicles into the market?
0:57:44
Have you considered conducting a taxi of tomorrow like competition to promote the development of wheelchair accessible electric vehicles in The US market?
David Do
0:57:53
Yeah.
0:57:54
We have engaged with a variety of different manufacturers, with medallion owners to really look at, what, the future of wheelchair accessible electric vehicles are.
0:58:09
Currently, when I speak with manufacturers, this is not something that, really there is a pressing, a mode for them to push towards.
0:58:21
Right?
0:58:22
They tell me that there is not a market, and I show them New York City.
0:58:26
Right?
0:58:26
I show them that there's a hundred thousand vehicles, that there is truly a market.
0:58:31
And they just don't believe me yet.
0:58:33
But, we are always working with our manufacturers to educate them about the biggest for hire fleet, in The US so that we can make that transition.
0:58:44
But as our roles continue to mature, we hope, right, with more EVs, with more wheelchair accessible vehicles, that there is a synergistic, future, for an EV wheelchair accessible vehicle.