A fleet of Fisker Oceans, left orphaned after the automaker’s 2024 bankruptcy, has found new purpose on New York City streets through American Lease’s ambitious acquisition and rental initiative.
The for-hire car fleet operator purchased approximately 3,000 Fisker Ocean SUVs for $42.5 million at a fair market rate of about $13,000 per vehicle, according to bankruptcy filings. These EVs are now being leased to Uber and Lyft drivers for as low as $399 a month, filling a crucial role in the city’s push toward a fully electric rideshare fleet by 2030.
While Fisker may be out of business, support for these vehicles hasn’t dried up, thanks to BHP Service Center, a brick-and-mortar repair shop in the Bronx that now serves as a critical hub for maintenance and parts sourcing.
“I feel lucky that I get to be the one to work with American Lease,” BHP owner Ronen, known simply as Roni, a 25-year veteran of New York’s taxi service sector, told Inside EVs. “There have been no accidents yet -- thank God,” he added, though he’s already prepping for a future with increased maintenance needs.
To prepare for demand, BHP has begun stockpiling parts, including buying spares directly from Fisker and even manufacturing some in-house.
The shop has also acquired wrecked Oceans to strip for parts -- vehicles not damaged in operation but purchased in damaged condition for inventory support. “I’ve had private owners ask for parts and I’ve had to turn them away,” Roni noted. “American Lease has to come first.”
As New York phases in its EV-for-hire vehicle mandate, BHP Service Center is poised to become a key player in keeping this unconventional electric fleet running smoothly.
