Electric water taxi service to launch in Miami to ease urban congestion

A new water taxi service, codenamed E-Lixr, is set to begin operations in Miami imminently. It will offer an alternative to the city’s congested roads. The service aims to use Biscayne Bay’s waterways with electric-powered vessels, to target both environmental sustainability and improved urban mobility. 

The initial ‘pre-lectric’ pilot service will feature two Axopar vessels, Wanderlust and Starlust, which will serve as premium water taxis. The company plans to introduce fully electric vessels in 2025, aiming to establish the nation’s first all-electric waterborne transportation service. 

Miami currently ranks among the top 25 US cities for increased commute times over the past decade, with average commutes approaching 58 minutes. E-Lixr co-founder Nathalie Paiva explains the company’s launch comes as post-pandemic shifts in transportation preferences, to a “greater emphasis on health, safety, and personal space,” have created an opportunity for alternative transit solutions. 

E-Lixr was founded by Sam Payrovi and Nathalie Paiva. Payrovi, who serves as CEO, brings experience from ventures like Saintly Bags, Consortium, Cstm Haus, and Arkhaus, while Paiva, as chief experience officer, contributes expertise in luxury brand management, including that of LVMH. Aaron Leatherwood, a retired US Coast Guard commander and former RMK Merrill Stevens shipyard CEO, oversees marine operations. 

The service will offer real-time booking through an online platform, with crew and customer service teams undergoing training before the launch. Docking stations are being finalised at strategic locations around Miami. 

E-Lixr’s founders aim to integrate the service into global rideshare networks, positioning it as part of a broader urban mobility solution. If successful, the company plans to expand the service nationwide. 

Payrovi comments: “Our vision for {E-Lixr} is clear, to decarbonise and modernise urban transportation through a dual service approach that caters to both private luxury and public convenience, ensuring that {E-Lixr} is not just a product but a comprehensive transportation solution.” 

Payrovi, Paiva and Leatherwood also form the executive team of ARKHAUS, a floating private members club set to launch soon in Miami. 

Images courtesy of E-Lixr.

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