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Well… that’s it. Overnight, Revel rideshare is gone. Just like that.

They will be missed.

A Quick Trip Down Memory Lane

When Revel first hit the streets, drivers were paid hourly and rolled out in their own unmistakable, bright-blue cars. It was kind of their thing — you couldn’t miss them.

Then, the model shifted: drivers had to pay a fee to use Revel’s vehicles, and earnings were based on rides instead of hours. The cars? Still nice. The driving skills? Let’s just say… not every ride was nausea-free.

The Coupon Leak Legend

Revel became internet-famous after a coupon leak a few years ago handed out roughly $400 in ride credits. Catch? Cars were scarce and booking was nearly impossible at the time.

Where They Operated

Most of NYC and Newark Airport (EWR) — that’s it. They never really expanded rideshare beyond that.

The Good, the Bad, and the Blue

Revel had a lot going for it:

• Competitive pricing on certain routes
• Occasional coupons and a solid referral program
• Sleek Teslas and Kia Niros (though you couldn’t choose your model)

But they weren’t perfect:

• Not always reliable during peak hours or early mornings — even if you scheduled ahead
• Slow arrival times
• Customer service that was easy to contact but not always easy to get help from

Refunds? Often replaced by credits or not given at all, even when the problem was clearly theirs — GPS proof and all. Like being charged wait time when the driver was at the wrong location.

Fleet Facts

Revel’s lineup included:

• Tesla Model 3 (small)
• Tesla Model Y (bigger)
• Kia Niro (compact SUV)

No minivans, no big-capacity EVs — maybe because there just aren’t electric models that size yet.

Driver Diversity (and a Fun Observation)

Out of over 100 rides, I had exactly one female driver — ironically, she was driving a female passenger. Most drivers? A lot of Ahmeds and Mohammads, with some genuinely interesting conversations along the way. Definitely more international representation compared to Uber or Lyft.

The Farewell Note

Here’s what riders woke up to today:

“Revel’s Rideshare service has ended.

After 4 years and countless electric rides, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our rideshare service today.

However, we will be continuing to scale our fast charging business with new sites opening in New York, San Francisco, LA, and more cities soon. If you’ve got an EV, we hope you’ll charge up with us.

Thank you for riding with us.”

The shutdown happened as fast as the announcement itself — instantly wiping out any credits people still had in their accounts. Those credits were already heavily restricted after the last update, when expiration dropped from 3 months to just 1, and referral bonuses were capped at $200 lifetime.

Goodbye, Blue Cars

So long to the bright-blue fleet, the slightly unpredictable service, the unique drivers, and the sometimes-frustrating customer support. You were one of a kind, Revel — and for better or worse, you made NYC rideshare a little more colorful.