By Forum Staff
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Sunday announced that 173 electric mobility charging and storage stations are coming to the city. Schumer and Gillibrand said that $25 million in federal funds will go towards the construction, and electrical work needed to make this project complete. The project will fund the engineering and installation at 53 outdoor New York City Housing Authority sites. Engineering and construction aspects include electrical supply, utilities, drainage, fire safety requirements, security, safety, lighting, and accessibility.
Schumer explained how the Big Apple received this federal award as he also detailed how over the past few years, there have been a growing number of fires across the city, Long Island and beyond caused by lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters—often spurred during charging. There were 216 of these battery fires last year, a dramatic increase in fires from the 44 that occurred in 2020. This year, there have already been 30 battery fires in Gotham, which have left 40 injured and 2 dead.
The emergency funding for NYCHA comes from the federal Department of Transportation via the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program. The funding will be used to install electric micro-mobility charging and storage stations at fifty-three NYCHA developments across all five boroughs in New York City. The project will vastly reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards linked to lithium-ion battery micro-mobility devices such as e-bikes and e-scooters.
Schumer and Gillibrand said that since their inception, micro-mobility devices have been an important form of transportation that help people meet their transportation needs. The increased popularity of micro-mobility devices has also raised concerns about safety challenges associated with the charging and storage of lithium-ion battery-powered micro-mobility devices in NYCHA apartments. The agency, despite these challenges, remains committed to its mission of providing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible transportation options for all of its residents.
The $25 million award will be used for NYCHA’s proposed project, “Safe Access for Electric Micromobility” (SAFE Micromobility). The project proposes to install 173 electric micromobility charging and storage stations at fifty-three NYCHA developments across all five boroughs in New York City. As of April 2023, there have been sixty-three reported fires caused by lithium-ion batteries, resulting in dozens of injuries and five deaths. The increased availability of outdoor charging and storage stations is intended to reduce or eliminate potential fire hazards linked to lithium-ion battery micro-mobility devices, such as e-bikes. Providing safe storage and accessible charging infrastructure will help to alleviate many of the safety concerns associated with micromobility transportation for NYCHA residents, while also helping to reduce carbon emissions in New York City.
Schumer and Gillibrand are also pushing a bill that would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate a consumer product safety standard with respect to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in personal mobility devices, and for other purposes.
According to FDNY, lithium-ion batteries are used in various devices. These batteries are commonly used in cell phones, laptops, tablets, electric cars, and scooters. Lithium-ion batteries store a large amount of energy and can pose a threat if not treated properly. Like any product, a small number of these batteries are defective. They can overheat, catch fire, or explode.
