Thanks to $2 M city investment, delivery workers can stay safe from lithium-ion battery fires
This week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced final rules governing the city’s first-in-the-nation municipal trade-in pilot program for unsafe electric bikes and other electric-powered mobility devices and their batteries. The rules will allow eligible food delivery workers to replace their unsafe devices with certified, high-quality e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries. The program is part of the Adams administration’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan” to promote public safety as e-bike usage continues to skyrocket and will help reduce the risk of deadly e-bike fires, often caused by uncertified lithium-ion batteries, as well as enhance street safety by getting faster and heavier illegal mopeds off city streets. Thanks to the Adams administration’s initiatives, there has been a significant decrease in lithium-ion battery fire deaths and injuries so far this year. At this time last year, New York City had experienced 224 lithium-ion battery-related fires resulting in 122 injuries and 14 deaths. So far, in 2024, there have been 222 fires, 88 injuries, and four fatalities caused by lithium-ion batteries.
“My top priority is keeping New Yorkers safe, and that includes from new and emerging threats like the dangers posed by uncertified lithium-ion batteries,” said Mayor Adams.
“E-bikes are an important part of reducing pollution but not at the expense of riders, their families, or neighbors,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Today, we are proud to accept dangerous e-bikes and, in return, provide zero-emission, safe equipment so hard-working delivery workers can have peace of mind on the job and off.”
“Safer e-bikes, safer batteries, and safer charging practices are integral to a cleaner and more sustainable future, and this program will do this while also protecting all New Yorkers from deadly fires,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Delivery workers have one of the toughest jobs in New York City, and this trade-in program gives them access to safe equipment at work, while giving their families and neighbors greater peace of mind.”
