New York launches e-bike safety measures after deadly fires

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced new initiatives to boost the safety of e-bikes after a series of deaths caused by faulty batteries.

The Safe Charging Accelerator aims to ensure safe e-bike usage and charging, and includes a US$2 million trade-in programme for unsafe e-bikes, e-mobility devices and batteries.

“When used correctly, e-bikes are a convenient, low-cost transportation option that reduce congestion and emissions, and tens of thousands of delivery workers rely on them every day,” said Mayor Adams.

“But too often, those bikes are powered by unsafe, uncertified batteries that at any minute could combust.

“That is why we are doing everything in our power to put a stop to these deadly fires and make use of safe lithium-ion batteries more affordable.”

As part of the accelerator, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYDOT) will propose a rule to expedite approvals for property owners to quickly install e-bike battery swapping and charging cabinets on pavements, removing barriers to their installation and making them accessible and usable for e-bike users.

Each cabinet must comply with specific dimensional requirements and undergo city review and approval.

NYDOT will also launch the country’s first municipal trade-in pilot programme for unsafe e-bikes and other powered mobility devices and their batteries, allowing eligible food delivery workers to replace unsafe devices with certified, high-quality e-bikes and batteries.

Danger

According to the city, illegal and unregulated batteries pose significant risks to residents and emergency services due to their potential to ignite.

Since 2019, lithium-ion batteries have led to 733 fires, killing 29 New Yorkers and injuring 442 more.

Notably, in 2023, 133 fires started from lithium-ion batteries that were not charging, compared to 91 that occurred while they were.

As part of the new initiative, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) will launch a US$1 million public education and awareness campaign on the dangers of unsafe batteries.

To provide further guidance on lithium-ion battery policies, the city will convene a working group consisting of representatives from tech companies, real estate stakeholders, and municipal experts focused on transportation and fire safety.

Within 90 days of convening, the group will issue a set of recommendations on how to update city rules and processes to increase adoption of safe-charging cabinets.

“The reality is that lithium-ion batteries can be dangerous even if they are certified, and even if they are not charging,” said FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.

“We implore every user of a device with a lithium-ion battery to closely review this campaign and see for yourselves the deadly and destructive fires the device in your home may cause.”

Image: NYC