Activation of City’s First Public E-Bike Charging Site for Delivery Workers

First of Five Outdoor Charging Facilities Now Online at Manhattan’s Cooper Square, With Others to be Installed in Coming Weeks

Pilot Will Allow Select Group of Delivery Workers to Safely Charge Lithium-Ion Batteries Outside of Residences

Effort Part of Administration’s “Charge Safe, Ride Safe” Plan to Support Safe E-Bike Use, Prevent Deadly Lithium-Ion Battery Fires

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball activated the first of five public e-battery charging locations as part of the city’s new six-month pilot program to test safe, public charging of lithium-ion batteries by an initial group of 100 delivery workers. The first charging site is being located in Cooper Square in Manhattan’s East Village and is a key component of the administration’s overall “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan” to support safe e-bike use and prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires. New York City is among the first major cities in the United States to launch a public e-bike charging pilot program.

“We count on delivery workers for so much, and they should be able to count on us, too — whether that means fighting for fair pay or making their jobs and livelihoods safer,” said Mayor Adams. “This pilot program we’re kicking off today will give delivery workers the ability to access safe, accessible, outdoor battery-charging that will undoubtedly save lives, and we’re eager to expand this pilot even further. We know the incredible potential of e-bikes in our city and it’s on us to make e-bike use even safer.”

Mayor Adams also announced four other outdoor charging sites across Manhattan and Brooklyn, selected based on their high concentrations of e-bike delivery activity and delivery workers. Those locations — the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, Essex Market in the Lower East Side, Plaza De Las Americas in Washington Heights, and Willoughby and Jay Streets in Downtown Brooklyn — will have public e-battery charging locations installed and activated in the coming weeks.

DOT developed the pilot through the agency’s DOT Studio, a research and development partnership with NYCEDC and the urban tech growth hub Newlab. The announcement follows the release of the administration’s Green Economy Action Plan, a first-of-its-kind plan that outlines a roadmap to grow the city’s green economy — consisting of investments in jobs and sectors that will help the city combat climate change — and train and position New Yorkers, particularly those from environmentally-disadvantaged communities, to benefit from the nearly 400,000 projected ‘green-collar’ jobs in New York City by 2040.

Three companies — Swobbee, Popwheels, and Swiftmile — are providing charging infrastructure for the pilot. Swobbee and Popwheels are providing swappable battery systems, enabling participating e-bike users to swap a depleted, UL-certified e-bike battery for a fully-charged battery at designated outdoor battery cabinets. Swiftmile is providing a secure charging bike rack where participating e-bike users can lock up their bikes and charge while parked. The three technologies include fire safety features, ranging from automatic shutoff if a battery is overheating to fire suppression systems. The FDNY, a key partner in the pilot, reviewed product development and will also inspect each pilot location during installation and throughout the duration of the program.

Only participating delivery workers will be able to take part in the six-month pilot free of cost. In the coming days, DOT will sign as many as 100 delivery workers up to participate in the pilot program; during which the workers will provide continuous feedback about their experience with the charging technologies and hubs. Interested workers can fill out an Expression of Interest form or attend an onboarding event, including at Cooper Square on March 7, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on March 8, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity, build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city’s future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.