A back and forth between the City of Miami and water taxi services has taken a new turn.
At the same time it the City of Miami Beach has ended funding for an existing ferry service, an upstart electric boat company has laid out plans for a water taxi service to ease urban congestion in the city.
The company is called E-Lixr, and it comes from the same founders as Arkhaus, a company that has developed floating private member social clubs in Miami.
Miami residents might recognize the Ark name from a viral story in 2022 regarding a legal fight between a resident's floating 'Ark' mansion and the City of Miami, although there is seemingly no connection between the 'Arkup' and Arkhaus.
Despite the lack of connection, there appears to be a strong drive among Miami entrepreneurs to explore alternative uses for boats as both accommodation and public transit.
Arkhaus is launching E-Lixr with plans to launch a 'pre-electric' service to pave the way for more electric water taxis as an alternative to using the roadway system. The City of Miami has an average commute time of 58 minutes and is prone to congestion nearly twenty four hours a day. The company will first begin their services around Biscayne Bay.
The E-Lixr ride sharing service will offer real-time booking through an online platform. Docking stations are currently being finalized at keynote locations around the Bay.
The longterm goal, according to E-Lixr’s, is to develop the service into a global rideshare network, with the hope to introduce waterfront cities to a new urban mobility solution that prevents clogging up major thoroughfares. E-Lixr hopes to expand the service nationwide if their initial launch in Miami generates enough customers.
CEO Sam Payrovi said in a press release: “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 it is not just a product but a comprehensive transportation solution.”
Before E-Lixr can go fully electric with their ferry design, the company is testing their digital and routing systems using two Axopar gas-powered boats-- Wanderlust and Starlust -- which are serving as a taxi service. Users can use the platform's realtime booking, route customization, and immediate confirmation features to plan their trips throughout the Bay, whether it be for work or personal travel.
The founders of E-Lixr, CEO Sam Payrovi and Director or Marine Operations Aaron Leatherwood, both have extensive resumes in both entrepreneurship and the marine industry. Leatherwood worked previously a US Coast Guard licensed Chief Engineer and retired USCG Commander. He also resurrected the RMK Merrill Stevens shipyard after the longstanding company experienced a period of turmoil. CEO Payrovi brings experience from ventures like Saintly Bags, Consortium, Cstm Haus, and Arkhaus, while fellow co-founder and Chief Experience Officer Nathalie Paiva has expertise in luxury brand management with companies like LVMH.
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