[fritz_t_coyote]

I am guessing that the people behind this have not driven in NYC.
Or rode in an NYC Taxi.

Because NYC traffic miles are like 'dog years'

None of that gentle acceleration to cruising speed followed by a gradual slowdown to the red light 1/2 a mile ahead (which is what regenerative brakes live for).

But a constant full throttle, hard braking cycle.
( hmmm.... like a road-race )
On broken pavement (ok, like an off-road race)
Surrounded by maniac drivers who are perfectly willing to trade paint with you, because their paint is the same color. (sorta like an off-road demo derby).
For an 8-hour shift (an Endurance-Off-Road-Demo-Derby).

And trying this with a PROTOTYPE? As in taped together wiring harness connecting unproven components?

And best of all... on a UNIBODY Chassis. I don't care how many Robot Welders and Engineered Adhesives you use, NYC streets will beat it to death. Once it starts flexing metal fatigue will eventually win. Of course once the body is flexing enough, you can always use a bit of Morgan dogma: Don't think of it as chassis flex, think of it as extra suspension travel.

On the other hand: They can take the poor broken thing back to the lab and figure out what went wrong. Maybe version 2.0 (or 3.0) will be more effective.

If they really want something that can 'hack' it as an NYC taxi:
Start with a vehicle with a stout steel frame and heavy duty suspension, like a JEEP.