New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez announced property owners and tenants with property owner approval can apply to install e-bike battery swapping and charging cabinets on sidewalks within the public right-of-way in front of their properties. Applications are now open following the adoption of rules by NYC DOT. The initiative is a cornerstone of the Adams Administration’s Charge Safe, Ride Safe commitment to combat lithium-ion battery fires and support safe e-mobility use.
The measure is designed to reduce apartment fires by moving more battery charging and storage to safe, Fire Department New York (FDNY) approved cabinets on sidewalks. The agency also published a step-by-step guide with information on the process to apply for e-bike battery swapping and charging cabinets on public sidewalks. The effort builds on the success of last year’s pilot program that reduced e-battery charging in apartments by 35 percent among pilot program participants.
“As more and more New Yorkers turn to e-bikes as a safe, affordable and convenient way to get around, we need to do our part to ensure charging is safe and accessible,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “These rules help us continue the important work to expand access to safe e-bike charging options, and I encourage anyone who is interested to check out our new guide.”
“Structural fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have seen a troubling rise this year, and increasing access to safe, FDNY-approved charging cabinets is a vital step in reversing this trend,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker. “We know that New Yorkers rely on e-micromobility devices to live and work throughout the five boroughs and this proactive measure will help ensure that innovation and safety go hand in hand.”
Under the rules, an e-bike battery swapping and charging cabinet may be installed outdoors and adjacent to buildings with ground floor commercial and community facility uses and residential buildings with five or more dwelling units through a revocable consent.
