NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — An e-bike charging station opened in the East Village on Thursday as part of a pilot program testing the safe, public charging of lithium-ion batteries by delivery workers, Mayor Eric Adams said.
The charging station, which is located in Cooper Square in Manhattan’s East Village, is the first of five stations that will be activated as part of the city’s six-month pilot that was announced in December. The pilot focuses on delivery workers, many of whom move around the city on e-bikes.
“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,” Adams said. “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."
Adams was joined by FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and other officials at Thursday’s unveiling as controversey around e-bikes in the city continues.
The launch of the pilot comes not even a week after fire marshals determined that a fatal fire in Harlem that killed one person and injured over a dozen more was caused by a lithium-ion battery.
“We know that micro-mobility devices powered by lithium-ion batteries are already in people’s homes,” Kavanagh said. “In fact, a majority of deadly e-bike fires happen in residences. They are used daily by delivery workers and others to work and commute. Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are extremely dangerous and deadly, and we must continue to work together to tackle this public safety threat head on.”
The charging infrastructure for the pilot has been provided by companies Swobbee, Popwheels and Swiftmile, the mayor’s office said. Charging station technology includes swappable battery systems that allow participants to switch depleted e-bike batteries for a fully charged battery at designated battery cabinets, as well as secure charging bike racks.
All of the charging infrastructure include fire safety features that range from automatic shutoff to fire suppression systems, officials said.
The locations of the other four charging stations—the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, Essex Market in the Lower East Side, Plaza De Las Americas in Washington Heights and Willoughby and Jay streets in Downtown Brooklyn—were chosen based on their high concentrations of e-bike delivery activity and workers. These stations will be activated in coming weeks.
NYC’s DOT studio developed the pilot, and in the coming days the DOT will sign as many as 100 delivery workers up to participate. Workers will provide continuous feedback about their experience over the course of the pilot.
Delivery workers interested in joining the pilot can fill out an expression of interest form provided by the DOT, or attend an onboarding event. Upcoming events will be held at Cooper Square on March 7 between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on March 8 during the same time frame.
E-bikes have become a contentious topic across the city, and a push is being made by Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, who represents northeast Queens, to ban e-bikes in NYC Parks. The move contradicts another existent pilot program that began in June and allows the use of these vehicles on park drives and greenways.
Intro 1267, re-introduced by Paladino, would prohibit electric scooters and bicycles with electric assist from being used in any park maintained by NYC Parks.
“Elected Officials need to take a hard look at the reality of e-bikes on our streets before attempting to allow them in NYC Parks,” Paladino said. “E-bikes are posing a danger to pedestrians and other vehicles while operating on NYC streets. Allowing them into parks, where New Yorkers are meant to feel comfortable and safe walking the paths, is a recipe for disaster.”