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(New York, NY) — The New York City Department of Transportation is marking a milestone with its e-bike trade in program with the distribution of its 400th safe, certified e-bike to a delivery worker. The program aims to curb fires caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries by replacing unsafe, uncertified e-bikes and illegal mopeds with high-quality equipment.
The initiative, part of the city’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan,” was created to address a high number of fires linked to uncertified lithium-ion batteries. The Fire Department of New York (FDNY) reported 268 such blazes in 2023, which resulted in 18 fatalities.
To qualify, an applicant must be a food delivery worker who is a NYC resident, is at least 18 years old, and earned a minimum of $1,500 in 2024. They must also own and use an eligible device in working condition for deliveries.
The agency now plans on launching a multilingual survey to get feedback from delivery workers who have taken part in the initiative to evaluate its possible expansion. The city initially put two million dollars into the program but is hoping to secure more funding once it wraps up the survey.
