DCAS Registers First Electric Ride and Car Share Contracts

Through Local Law 140, NYC's Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will work to electrify all city-owned vehicles by 2038. At the same time, DCAS is working to ensure that rental vehicles used by the fleet for short-term transport needs are also zero emissions. 

Revel provides rideshare services only for electric vehicles. This is the city’s first rideshare contract and will enable Smartphone-based access to electric vehicle transport on an as-needed basis for agencies for city-related work. Revel is also expanding its commercial EV charging options to multiple sites throughout the city and has implemented one of NY’s first pilots of vehicle-to-grid technology.

Reducing the Light-Duty Fleet Size Throuhg the Car Share Contract

Since 2012, DCAS has offered all agencies access to a contract with Zipcar for short-term, occasional, and vehicle rental needs. Currently, the contract offers gas or hybrid vehicle options. For the first time, DCAS will have a separate agreement with Zipcar for fully electric car share units. All other aspects of the program will be the same, except there will be no more tailpipes or emissions.

City agencies will also have access to electric models for short-term rentals, anywhere from a day, week, or month. Hertz hosts the contract for electric sedans, and Joulez won the contract for electric utility vehicles and vans. DCAS also has an electric pickup option from its existing contract with United Rentals. 

Rental contracts are used during emergencies, for short-term special projects and events, or to scale up new initiatives and programs quickly until vehicles can be purchased. Moving forward, agencies can pursue all of these options as electric units.