NYC is putting e-bike charging stations on sidewalks to combat a deadly spike in lithium-ion battery fires, especially those caused by uncertified batteries charged inside homes.
These outdoor stations, part of the city's "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" plan, provide a safe, accessible alternative for the thousands of delivery workers who rely on e-bikes for their livelihoods.
By moving high-risk charging out of residential buildings and onto the street, the city aims to protect residents and support essential workers.
This guide will walk you through the hard data, the city's comprehensive plan, and what this new infrastructure means for every New Yorker.
The Fire Crisis That Forced NYC's Hand
The alarming numbers behind the e-bike fire epidemic.
A dramatic increase in lithium-ion battery fires, particularly from e-bikes, led to a tragic loss of life and property damage, prompting a citywide emergency response.
In 2023, the city was rocked by 268 fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, a number that slightly increased to 277 in 2024. The human toll was even more devastating, with 18 deaths in 2023, a significant increase from the six fatalities reported in 2022.
A particularly tragic event was a fire at a Chinatown e-bike repair shop that killed four people, underscoring the severity of the problem.
In response to this crisis, the city launched a comprehensive initiative to protect residents and first responders. These early interventions appear to have made a measurable impact on the human cost of these fires.
The number of fatalities linked to lithium-ion battery incidents dropped by a remarkable 67 percent, from 18 deaths in 2023 to six in 2024. While any death is a tragedy, this progress highlights the effectiveness of the city's initial efforts in public education, inspection, and community outreach.
The city also saw a notable shift in fire locations, with 133 of the 2024 incidents classified as non-structural, meaning they occurred outdoors rather than inside buildings, which is a significant increase from the 90 non-structural fires reported in 2023.
This suggests that the public has started to heed the fire department's message about storing and charging these devices outside whenever possible. The numbers below provide a stark look at the severity of the problem.
| Year | Number of Fires | Fatalities | Injuries |
| 2023 | 268 | 18 | 150 |
| 2024 | 277 | 6 | 88 |
Why "Frankenstein batteries" are the real culprits.
The core of the fire problem isn't the e-bike itself, but the battery. The majority of these dangerous fires are caused by cheap, uncertified, or dangerously modified batteries, often charged improperly inside apartments.
The FDNY has vowed to crack down on these "Frankenstein batteries," which are low-quality, modified power packs that pose a significant risk of fire and explosion. The problem is exacerbated by unsafe charging practices, such as overcharging, using damaged or substandard batteries, and leaving them unattended.
A critical, often-overlooked dimension of the safety problem is the surprising finding that these batteries can ignite even when not charging.
According to FDNY data, 59 percent of lithium-ion battery fires in 2023 occurred when the batteries were not being charged, underscoring the inherent risk of uncertified batteries even when dormant.
This finding demonstrates that the problem is not just about charging behavior, but a fundamental issue of product quality and regulation.
Consequently, a comprehensive solution must address both where people charge their batteries and the type of batteries they are using in the first place. The city's legislative efforts and the trade-in program are a direct response to this multifaceted problem.
The danger is compounded by improper storage in apartments, which can block escape routes and fuel fires with combustible materials, making them notoriously difficult to control.
How new city laws are cracking down on unsafe equipment.
New York City has passed several laws and launched educational campaigns to regulate the sale of unsafe batteries and raise public awareness.
The legislative component of the "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" action plan includes Local Law 39 (LL39), which prohibits the sale, lease, or rental of e-bikes and batteries that fail to meet recognized UL safety standards, such as UL 2849 for e-bikes and UL 2271 for batteries.
This law, which took effect in September 2023, represents a significant shift from a reactive to a proactive strategy by preventing dangerous products from entering the market in the first place.
The city's approach is multi-pronged, combining regulation with education and enforcement. Companion laws mandate public information campaigns on fire risks and increase penalties for illegal sales.
The FDNY has also launched a $1 million public education campaign on the dangers of unsafe lithium-ion batteries, targeting the communities most affected by these fires.
SEE ALSO Why You Should Not Charge Electric Bike Overnight
How NYC's "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" Plan Works
The pilot program’s key goal: reduce at-home charging risks.
The city launched a pilot program to test public charging solutions and reduce the dangerous practice of charging uncertified batteries inside residential buildings. As a core part of Mayor Adams' "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" Action Plan, the NYC Department of Transportation (DOT) initiated a six-month pilot program in February 2024 to explore outdoor charging solutions.
This program, a collaboration with partners like the FDNY and Newlab, deployed battery swapping cabinets and charging docks at five strategic locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
The decision to specifically target a select group of 118 food delivery workers for the pilot was a deliberate and strategic one. The city recognized that this population represents a high-risk group for fire hazards due to their reliance on e-bikes for income and their use of potentially unsafe equipment.
By offering this group free, unlimited charging services, the city sought to improve public safety for all residents while simultaneously supporting the livelihoods of essential workers who are critical to the city's economy.
Pilot program results
The pilot program was a major success, demonstrating that outdoor charging infrastructure can significantly reduce fire risks and boost delivery workers’ productivity and peace of mind.
The Safer Charging, Safer Deliveries report detailed the overwhelmingly positive findings, including 12,100 total battery swaps and 1,300 charging sessions over the course of the pilot. The most significant finding was a 35 percent reduction in at-home charging among participants, with some completely eliminating the practice.
Participants also reported feeling more productive and experienced a 50 percent decrease in their reliance on heavy, spare batteries during deliveries. The report also noted that there were no fire incidents or 311 complaints at any of the pilot locations, which is a crucial point for building public trust and proving the safety of the new infrastructure.
E-bike trade-in program
The city is offering a no-cost trade-in program for delivery workers to swap their dangerous, uncertified e-bikes for new, UL-certified models.
This pilot initiative, funded by a $2 million city investment, allows eligible food delivery workers to trade in their uncertified e-bikes, illegal mopeds, or their associated batteries for a new, fire-safe e-bike and two certified batteries at no cost.
The program requires applicants to be current NYC residents, at least 18 years old, and to have earned at least $1,500 as a food delivery worker in the past year. The trade-in program, coupled with the new law banning the sale of uncertified batteries, creates a powerful two-part strategy.
The law removes the supply of dangerous batteries from the market, while the trade-in program provides an immediate, no-cost alternative to remove the existing stock from the street.
SEE ALSO Minnesota E-bike Rebate 2025: How to Qualify & Maximize Your Discount
A Deep Dive into the New Sidewalk Charging Stations
Understanding the tech: swapping cabinets vs. charging docks.
The city is testing two main types of public charging technology: instant battery swapping and traditional dock charging. During the pilot program, two key technologies were deployed.
Battery swapping cabinets, provided by companies like Popwheels and Swobbee, allow a rider to exchange a depleted, UL-certified battery for a fully charged one in a matter of seconds. These cabinets are equipped with fire suppression systems and are digitally monitored to identify and remove damaged batteries from circulation.
In contrast, charging docks, provided by Swiftmile, function more like a traditional electric vehicle charger for cars. A rider can lock their bike and plug it in to charge while parked. The pilot program's findings showed that battery swapping was significantly more popular and had higher user retention than the charging docks.
This is a crucial finding for the future of urban e-mobility, as it suggests that for high-volume, time-sensitive users like delivery workers, speed and convenience are paramount.
As one worker noted, having to wait at a charging station for three to four hours is "time wasted" and not a viable alternative to overnight charging at home, which underscores why the instant gratification of battery swapping is a more attractive solution.
A guide for building owners and tenants.
New city rules now allow building owners and tenants to apply for permission to install FDNY-approved charging cabinets on the sidewalk in front of their properties. This program is a clever public-private partnership model that leverages private resources to scale a public safety solution.
The city is not bearing the full cost of a city-wide network; instead, it is providing the legal framework and safety oversight while businesses and building owners front the costs and operational management.
The process, known as a "revocable consent" agreement, is a formal application with the DOT that can take up to a year to complete. It is open to commercial buildings with ground-floor commercial uses and residential buildings with five or more dwelling units.
This process requires a $750 filing fee, a $3,000 security deposit, and other associated costs, including hiring a design professional.
All cabinet models must be approved by the FDNY's Technology Management unit, and the installations must comply with strict siting requirements, including leaving a clear path for pedestrians. The Department of Buildings is responsible for issuing the electrical permits for installation.
The On-the-Ground Impact
How delivery workers feel safer and more productive with public charging options.
Delivery workers and their advocates hail the new charging stations as a crucial step toward improving their working conditions and ensuring their safety.
The success of the pilot program demonstrates that these solutions can be a direct response to the long-standing requests of workers and their advocates, such as Ligia Guallpa of the Workers Justice Project.
One delivery worker, William Medina, shared his relief about not having to charge his batteries overnight at home, stating he was "worried for my family" about the risk of fire.
The pilot also showed a direct link between charging stations and increased productivity. Workers reported feeling safer and more productive because they no longer needed to carry heavy spare batteries or take long breaks to recharge at home.
The big worries: theft, wait times, and limited availability.
Despite the successes, delivery workers still face major challenges, including bike and battery theft, charging wait times, and the limited availability of stations. One delivery worker, Vecente Carrasco, noted that having to wait for a battery to charge at a station during the day is "time wasted" compared to simply charging it overnight at home.
This highlights the need for a ubiquitous network that can provide instant solutions, such as battery swapping, to truly be a viable alternative for a time-sensitive workforce.
The issue of theft is also a significant concern. A worker named Sergio Solano pointed out that thieves are "stealing our batteries and our seats on the street" and that there is "no security" to prevent this.
These concerns demonstrate the tension between a controlled pilot environment and the messy reality of a large urban area.
The program's limited scope, which served only 118 out of an estimated 65,000 delivery workers, raises questions about how the city will scale this solution to meet the demand of a city-wide workforce.
A successful city-wide deployment will need to integrate robust security features and be scaled to a massive degree to be a practical alternative to at-home charging for the majority of workers.
Lessons from Around the World
How Paris and London have built extensive public charging networks.
NYC is not alone in tackling the challenges of urban e-mobility. Other major cities have developed public charging infrastructure with varying philosophies.
Paris, for example, has developed a comprehensive "Belib'" network with over 2,000 charging stations that serve all electric vehicles, from cars to e-bikes. The network offers dedicated "Moto" charging services for two-wheelers and a range of power levels and payment options, including a subscription model.
The Paris model is a prime example of a proactive, infrastructure-first approach, where the charging network is built as a foundational utility to support broad EV adoption. This provides a valuable contrast to NYC's more reactive, problem-driven approach.
London's strategy also involves working with private partners to expand a network of EV charging points, with a focus on both on-street and fleet charging.
London's city-wide Santander Cycles e-bike share program also provides a good model for a managed fleet, where e-bikes are docked and charged at stations as part of a city-run rental system.
The London model highlights a key difference in the urban mobility challenge: while London can manage its own fleet, NYC's problem is far more complex, requiring an innovative solution for a massive, unmanaged fleet of privately owned e-bikes.
Key differences in approaches and what NYC can learn.
NYC's approach differs from Paris's and London's in its immediate, crisis-driven motivation. While other cities built infrastructure as a strategic utility, NYC's charging stations are a direct response to a public safety emergency.
Paris's approach serves all EVs, while NYC's initial focus is on delivery workers and their specific needs. London’s system for its e-bike sharing program is a controlled, regulated fleet, whereas NYC must solve for a huge, privately-owned fleet.
The success of NYC's pilot program, particularly the popularity of battery swapping, shows that a successful city-wide network for private e-bikes will need to prioritize speed and convenience.
The experiences in other cities, particularly the success of comprehensive, city-wide networks like Paris's, suggest that as NYC's program expands, it may evolve from a targeted safety solution into a broader, foundational infrastructure for all electric micromobility users.
Your Role in the Solution: Staying Safe with Your E-Bike
A checklist for buying a fire-safe e-bike and battery.
To reduce the risk of fire, every e-bike rider should follow a clear safety checklist. The primary recommendation is to only buy e-bikes and batteries that are certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a globally recognized safety standard. Look for the UL certification logos (UL 2849 for e-bikes, UL 2271 for batteries) on the packaging or documentation.
Here is a simple checklist to follow:
Buy Certified Equipment: Only purchase e-bikes and batteries from reputable vendors that are UL-certified. Avoid "Frankenstein batteries" or cheap conversion kits, as they are a major fire risk.
Inspect for Damage: Regularly check your battery for any warning signs of failure, such as overheating, changes in shape or color, leaking, or strange smells or noises. If you notice any of these signs, immediately stop using or charging the battery.
Use the Correct Charger: Always use the manufacturer-approved charger that came with your device. Using a charger from a different brand or an uncertified universal charger can lead to fire risks.
Essential tips to avoid battery fires at home (and on the go)
Even with a safe battery, proper charging habits and storage are essential to prevent fires. Follow these tips to ensure safety for yourself and your neighbors.
Never Leave Charging Unattended: Do not leave your battery charging overnight or when you are away from home. Battery fires can escalate quickly, making it almost impossible to escape.
Charge in a Safe Location: Charge your battery on a hard, flat, and non-combustible surface where heat can dissipate. Never charge it on a bed, couch, or near flammable materials.
Keep Escape Routes Clear: Never store or charge your e-bike in an area that could block your escape route, such as a hallway.
Allow the Battery to Cool: If your battery is warm after a ride, allow it to cool down before you begin charging it.
SEE ALSO Dangerous E-bike Battery Fire | How to Get Rid of It
FAQs
What is the "Charge Safe, Ride Safe" plan?
It is a comprehensive action plan by the City of New York to combat e-bike battery fires by promoting safe charging, providing public infrastructure, and regulating the sale of unsafe equipment.
Where are the public e-bike charging stations located?
The initial pilot program included five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, such as Cooper Square and Essex Market. The city is now expanding the program to sidewalks in front of buildings and to NYCHA developments.
What is a UL-certified battery?
A battery that has been independently tested and certified by Underwriters Laboratories to meet specific fire safety standards, such as UL 2849 for e-bikes or UL 2271 for batteries.
Can I install an e-bike charging station at my building?
Yes, building owners and tenants can apply for a "revocable consent" from the DOT to install an FDNY-approved charging cabinet on the sidewalk in front of their property.
What should I do if my e-bike battery shows signs of damage?
Immediately stop using or charging the battery. Look for signs like overheating, swelling, unusual smells, or leaking. Call 911 if you suspect a fire.
