Photo Courtesy of FDNY
Fires caused by batteries that power e-bikes and scooters have resulted in two deaths and 40 injuries so far this year.
By Michael V. Cusenza
Fires caused by batteries that power e-micromobility devices are a significant problem across the five boroughs: In the first two months of 2023 alone they have resulted in two deaths and 40 injuries.
Mayor Eric Adams on Monday said that the City is doing something about the issue.
Adams announced “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan” to protect New Yorkers from fires caused by lithium-ion batteries and promote safe electric micromobility usage. The plan focuses on four key areas: Promoting and incentivizing safe battery use, increasing education and outreach to electric micromobility users, advocating for additional federal regulation of these devices, and expanding enforcement against high-risk situations. Mayor Adams also signed five bills into law to further regulate lithium-ion batteries sold in New York City and strengthen fire safety related to battery fires.
Adams noted that e-bikes and e-scooters are an affordable and convenient alternative to cars and are essential for delivery workers and other New Yorkers who rely on this mode of transportation for their livelihoods. However, these new transportation options have also brought serious challenges regarding fire risks. Fires caused by lithium-ion batteries increased to 220 in 2022 from 44 in 2020. These fires are particularly severe and difficult to extinguish, FDNY officials have noted, spreading quickly and producing noxious fumes. From 2021 to 2022, these fires resulted in 10 deaths and 226 injuries.
The “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” plan identifies four pillars to achieve the administration’s goals for safer e-micromobility and a safer city:
Supporting New Yorkers’ Transition to Safe and Legal E-Micromobility Use
Through innovative pilot programs and testing of new technologies to store and charge lithium-ion batteries, the City will support New Yorkers’ transition to safe and legal e-micromobility use by:
- Working with New York State to design and implement a program that incentivizes the purchase of safe and legal electric micromobility devices;
- Continuing to work on nation-leading deliverista hubs to provide delivery workers with safe places to rest and charge their devices throughout the city;
- Piloting safe, outdoor e-micromobility storage and charging solutions at New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) properties in Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, and applying for federal grant funding to support this work; and
- Identifying, testing, and evaluating the most promising public-facing battery-charging solutions through the 2023 DOT Studio Challenge. This initiative will invite startup companies specializing in e-micromobility charging technology to deploy their products at locations supporting food delivery workers. The city will also test and evaluate fire safety and prevention equipment for homes and commercial settings.
Increasing Education and Outreach about Safe Device Usage
The City will expand education and outreach efforts around safe e-micromobility usage, storage, and charging practices by:
- Expanding engagement to immigrant and worker communities, focusing on the communities most affected by these fires;
- Working to provide lithium-ion battery and e-micromobility safety training through New York City Emergency Management’s (NYCEM) Ready NY platforms, as well as directly to NYCEM’s Community Emergency Response Teams to reach everyday New Yorkers, in addition to certified emergency responders; and
- Launching a series, in partnership with Los Deliveristas Unidos, to train communities on fire safety best practices regarding lithium-ion batteries and e-micromobility.
Bolstering Regulation and Enforcement Against Illegal Device Usage
In addition to the legislation Adams signed into law on Monday, the City will continue to advocate for additional regulation for these devices and bolster enforcement against illegal device usage by:
- Creating a fire marshal task force focused on identifying violators of the fire code. The task force will use data to identify potential violators and high-risk situations or “hot spots,” which will be targeted for both outreach and inspection for compliance with existing fire codes;
- Continuing to advocate to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other federal partners to ensure that devices on New York City’s shelves — both virtual and brick-and-mortar — meet applicable safety standards; and
- Seeking partnerships with local, state, and federal partners to further research the health impacts on first responders handling lithium-ion batteries, which can be extremely toxic when they burn.
Promoting the Growth of Safe E-Micromobility and Cycling
New York City is a leader in sustainable transportation, and electric micromobility is a key tool to help New Yorkers get around efficiently, safely, affordably, and sustainably. In addition to work to prevent battery fires, the city will also work to make it easier and safer to use electric micromobility by:
- Launching a pilot program to allow e-bikes and other legal electric micromobility devices on park drives and greenways this summer and
- Updating and piloting different street designs to accommodate the growth of e-micromobility devices on the roads. To boost these efforts, DOT recently won a Federal Highway Administration “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant that will be used to further develop and test a new generation of street designs and policies.
In addition to the City’s new action plan, Adams signed five bills into law on Monday:
Intro. 722 — sponsored by Councilman Bob Holden (D-Maspeth) — will require the FDNY to submit five reports relating to fire risks and powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters. Reports will include data on fires during the previous year caused by these devices and recommendations for changes to changes to the administrative code to further decrease fire risk.
Intro. 656 — sponsored by Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan) — will require the FDNY, in consultation with the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), to develop an informational campaign educating the public on fire risks posed by powered mobility devices and how to mitigate those risks.
Intro. 663 — sponsored by Councilman Oswald Feliz (D-Bronx) — will prohibit the sale, lease, or rental of powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters, and storage batteries for these devices, that fail to meet recognized safety standards.
Intro. 749 — sponsored by Councilwoman Alexa Avilés (D-Brooklyn) — will require the DCWP, in consultation with the FDNY, to publish materials that provide guidance on safe use and storage of powered mobility devices.
Intro. 752 — also sponsored by Brewer — will prohibit the assembly or reconditioning of lithium-ion batteries using cells removed from used storage batteries and prohibit the sale of a lithium-ion batteries that use cells removed from used storage batteries.
“Lithium-ion batteries have become a real danger, causing massive fires and fatalities, displacing people, and threatening public safety,” Holden said. “Our city must take action, and this package of bills is a step in the right direction. I’m proud to have recently introduced a bill requiring registration, licensing, and insurance for e-bikes and scooters. I thank the speaker and mayor for their leadership in addressing this pressing issue.”
“This is a huge start to pressing and novel safety work, and New York City must lead the way,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “This is a broad responsibility, and our agency partners, delivery apps, and labor partners must work together to ensure that this equipment critical to delivery worker’s livelihood does not take lives instead.”
Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), chairwoman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management, signed on in support of the bills, but said her fellow lawmakers need to keep attacking the issue.
“While [the new laws] will certainly help improve safety in this city, there’s still a lot more work to do!” she added.
