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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 20

Mayor Adams takes new actions to prevent deadly Lithium-

Ion Battery Fires, Promote safe E-Bike Charging and Usage

DOT to Propose Rules Expediting Approvals and Removing Barriers to Allow Property

Owners to More Quickly Install Safe, Outdoor E-Battery Charging Infrastructure

dministration to Launch $2
Million Trade-In Program for
AUnsafe E-Bikes, E-Mobility
Devices, and Batteries
FDNY Invests $1 Million Into
Education Campaign Following New
Data Showing 59 Percent of 2023
Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Occurred
While Batteries Were Not Charging
New York City Mayor Eric Ad-
ams today launched the New York
City Safe Charging Accelerator to en-
sure safe e-bike usage and charging,
and to prevent deadly lithium-ion
battery fires in New York City. As a
part of this accelerator, the New York
City Department of Transportation
(DOT) will propose a rule to expe-
dite approvals for property owners
to more quickly install e-bike battery
swapping and charging cabinets on
public sidewalks, removing barriers
to their installation and making them
accessible and usable for e-bike us-
ers. Additionally, DOT will launch
the nation’s first municipal trade-in
pilot program for unsafe e-bikes and
other powered mobility devices and
their batteries, allowing eligible food
delivery workers to replace their un- fires and make use of safe lithium-ion said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph III. “We should not be losing any
safe devices with certified, high-qual- batteries more affordable. We’re cut- Varlack. “I am proud New York City lives to this, and these efforts will go
ity e-bikes and batteries. Finally, the ting red tape so property owners can and the mayor’s E-Micromobility In- a long, long way toward getting us
Fire Department of the City of New install charging stations outside, in teragency Task Force is leading the to that goal of zero. We’ve already
York (FDNY) will launch a $1 million front of their buildings. We’re also way on this urgent issue.” made progress thanks to New York-
public education and awareness cam- launching the nation’s first municipal “We must deliver safety to the ers heeding the warnings about these
paign on the dangers of unsafe lithi- trade-in program, so delivery workers people who deliver everything we devices, and we’re going to continue
um-ion batteries, following new data can swap their dangerous bikes and want to our doorstep every day. to give them the tools and support
showing that 59 percent of 2023’s batteries for certified, safe versions. That’s why we’re making sure that they need to stay safe.”
lithium-ion battery fires started when And we’re launching a new cam- safe charging and storage equipment “E-bikes are critical tools used by
those batteries were not charging. paign to let New Yorkers know that can be on our streets, where on-de- tens of thousands of delivery workers
These steps build on Mayor Adams’ charging or not, uncertified batteries mand delivery workers need it; that to support our economy,” said DOT
“Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York can be ticking time bombs. When e-bike safety education is widespread Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.
City’s Electric Micromobility Action New Yorkers face danger, this ad- and easy to access; and delivery work- “By providing these workers with re-
Plan” to promote public safety as ministration will take decisive action, ers have the chance to swap a danger- liable, safe equipment, we are helping
e-bike usage continues to skyrocket. and that is what we have done and ous bike and battery for a new one,” protect this workforce, their neigh-
“When used correctly, e-bikes continue to do with respect to deadly said Deputy Mayor for Operations bors and loved ones, and all New
are a convenient, low-cost transpor- lithium-ion battery fires.” Meera Joshi. “In addition to these Yorkers who rely on them each day.
tation option that reduce congestion “The Adams administration critical fire safety measures, we are We look forward to engaging with
and emissions, and tens of thousands knows e-micromobility is a critical hard at work with our partners in the delivery stakeholders and with the
of delivery workers rely on them ev- tool many New Yorkers use for work, City Council to create regulatory au- broader public as we work together
ery day,” said Mayor Adams. “But commuting, and pleasure, and we thority to more broadly control who to make our city safer for everyone.”
too often, those bikes are powered want to ensure our residents have uses our streets for profit and how.” “The reality is that lithium-ion
by unsafe, uncertified batteries that more access to new technology and “The fact of the matter is that batteries can be dangerous even if
at any minute could combust. That guidance that allows them to charge deaths caused by lithium-ion battery they are certified, and even if they
is why we are doing everything in our and store their lithium-ion batteries fires are preventable,” said Deputy are not charging,” said FDNY Com-
power to put a stop to these deadly safely and prevent dangerous fires,” Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks

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