NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday a lithium-ion battery-charging pilot program, expected to launch early next year, which will enable delivery workers to safely charge their bikes in public.
This announcement follows a recent fire in the Bronx on Sunday due to an e-bike battery, which resulted in one fatality and injuries to at least nine people.
The program includes exploring battery-swapping networks and secure bike parking docks with fast-charging capabilities.
The number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries has surged to 253 in 2023 from just 30 in 2019. From 2019 to 2022, these fires have averaged around three deaths and 66 injuries annually.
In 2023, battery fires resulted in 18 deaths and 133 injuries.
The initiative is part of the administration's "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" plan, which tests various technologies for charging e-bike batteries at multiple city locations.
It also includes transforming empty newsstands into charging hubs and a $25 million grant to set up 173 charging and storage stations at 53 public housing sites.
"New Yorkers rely on delivery workers for so much, and this innovative pilot program will test different technologies to make this technology safer as we continue to do all we can to help protect workers from the dangers that lithium-ion batteries can pose," Adams said.
The program aims to inform future citywide public e-bike charging efforts and gather feedback from delivery workers, the city release stated.
Over the past six months, the DOT, in partnership with the FDNY and delivery workers, will work with various companies to create safe and convenient e-battery charging options around the city.
“By investing in battery-swapping networks and fast-charging e-bike docks, we’re building e-bike-friendly infrastructure and preparing our city’s streets for a new generation of users,” Adams said.