After deadly lithium fires: NYC mayor announces activation of city's first public E-Bike charging site for delivery workers
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NEW YORK has activated the first of five public e-battery charging locations as part of the city’s new six-month pilot program to test safe, public charging of lithium-ion batteries by an initial group of 100 delivery workers.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball today activated the first of five public e-battery charging locations as part of the city’s new six-month pilot program, according to a press release from NYC.GOV.
The first charging site is being located in Cooper Square in Manhattan's East Village and is a key component of the administration’s overall “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan” to support safe e-bike use and prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires.
New York City is among the first major cities in the United States to launch a public e-bike charging pilot program.
According to NY Times, Lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power e-bikes, e-scooters and other e-mobility devices, have rapidly become a leading cause of fatal fires in New York City. The batteries sparked 268 fires in 2023 that killed 18 people and injured 150 others.
The program cost will be about $950,000 in city funding. It will result in helping informing the city’s efforts “to expand safe and affordable e-battery charging to all New Yorkers,” city transportation officials said.
“We count on delivery workers for so much, and they should be able to count on us, too — whether that means fighting for fair pay or making their jobs and livelihoods safer,” said Mayor Adams.
“This pilot program we’re kicking off today will give delivery workers the ability to access safe, accessible, outdoor battery-charging that will undoubtedly save lives, and we’re eager to expand this pilot even further. We know the incredible potential of e-bikes in our city and it’s on us to make e-bike use even safer.”
The city has partnered with three companies; Swobbee, PopWheels and Swiftmile, on providing the new charging hubs.
William Wachtel, the chairman of Swobbee USA, said the company had not had any fires after more than a million charges.
Mr. Wachtel claims the company has plans to establish a network of charging hubs for all e-bike riders across New York The cost would be max $2 a day for whatever number of batteries a bike courier might have.
Photo Credit:
Delivery bikers in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Natalia De Pablo Garcia, Pexels.com