New Rules to Expand Access to E-Bike Battery Charging Cabinets on Sidewalks, Building on Success of Pilot Program That Reduced E-Battery Charging in Apartments

Photo Courtesy of NYC DOT

Property Owners And Tenants May Apply to Install E-micromobility Battery Swapping and Charging Cabinets on Public Sidewalks in Front of Their Buildings Under New Rule

Pilot Program Users Say Battery Swapping and Charging Cabinets Improve Safety, Quality of Life, and Productivity

The final rules authorizing property owners and tenants to seek approval to install electric micromobility device battery swapping and charging cabinets on sidewalks within the public right-of-way in front of their properties were announced today. Building on the success of last year’s pilot program that reduced e-battery charging in apartments, this rule is one of the key pieces of the Adams Administration’s Charge Safe, Ride Safe initiative to combat lithium-ion battery fires and support safe e-mobility use. 

Under the new rules, published Thursday in the City Record, a battery swapping and charging cabinet may be installed outdoors and adjacent to buildings with ground floor commercial and community facility uses and residential buildings with five or more dwelling units. 

Each battery swapping and charging cabinet will need to comply with existing siting requirements for revocable consents, including clear path requirements to make sure there is space for the comfortable movement of pedestrians, and minimum clearance requirements from existing elements, such as subway entrances and bus stops. Additionally, each cabinet will need to comply with new size and installation requirements.

The new rules will take effect, and individuals may start the application process, on February 1, 2025.

In tandem with NYC DOT’s role reviewing applications, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) will review and approve each cabinet as part of their current Technology Management (TM) process to ensure that such cabinets use appropriate fire safety technology, such as fire suppression, ventilation, temperature control, and automatic shutoff if a battery is overheating. 

In recent years, ridership of micromobility devices, such as e-bikes and e-scooters, has skyrocketed. This includes increased ridership of e-bikes and illegal e-mopeds that use low-quality and uncertified lithium-ion batteries. The proliferation of these low-quality batteries combined with unsafe charging practices has contributed to an increase in fires started by lithium-ion batteries, which are now a leading cause of fires and fire deaths in New York City.

Electric micromobility device battery swapping and charging cabinets provide a safer way for e-bike users to charge and access Underwriters Laboratories (UL)-certified batteries that are designed to minimize fire risk. Batteries used in battery swapping systems are owned, digitally monitored, and inspected by battery swapping companies, further reducing risks because companies can proactively identify damaged batteries and remove them from circulation. 

Charge Safe, Ride Safe.

In addition to public e-bike charging initiatives, Mayor Adams’ Charge Safe, Ride Safe Action Plan is focused on building a safe, welcoming environment for e-bike riders citywide. To promote the safe use of e-bikes and reduce risk of deadly e-bike fires, often caused by uncertified batteries, NYC DOT is launching an e-bike trade-in program. Eligible delivery workers will be able to trade-in their substandard e-bike or non-street legal moped for a safer UL-certified e-bike with a spare UL-certified battery.

Additionally, the FDNY launched a $1 million public education and awareness campaign this summer on the dangers of unsafe lithium-ion batteries, following data showing that 59 percent of 2023’s lithium-ion battery fires started when those batteries were not charging.