Certified, Safe E-Bikes and Batteries Distribution to Delivery Workers Begins to Cut Down on Fires and Get Illegal Devices off City Streets

Commissioner Rodriguez, Commissioner Tucker, and others with a delivery worker receiving a fire-safe certified e-bike at the E-Bike Trade-In pilot program event. Credit: NYC DOT

NYC DOT To Distribute E-Bikes And Batteries To More Than 400 New York City Delivery Workers

Agency Also Reopens Application Portal For Workers Who Would Like To Join Program’s Waitlist

Today begins the distribution of fire-safe, certified e-bikes and e-batteries at no cost to hundreds of food delivery workers as part of the city’s E-Bike Trade-In pilot program of NYC DOT. The first-ever municipal program of its kind allows food delivery workers to trade in their uncertified e-bikes or illegal mopeds for one certified e-bike and two certified batteries. The trade-ins aim to help reduce the risk of deadly e-battery fires, often caused by uncertified equipment, and enhance street safety by getting faster and heavier illegal mopeds off our streets. NYC DOT plans to distribute 30 e-bikes Thursday during the first of a series of trade-in events.

NYC DOT also announced that the application window for the program will reopen from June 12 at 9 AM to June 30 at 9 PM for eligible food delivery workers who did not apply during the first round and would like to join the program’s waitlist. Interested applicants can apply through the program’s application portal. 

NYC DOT will be distributing one e-bike and two batteries each to more than 400 delivery workers who applied to participate in the pilot program over a series of trade-in events this summer. The eligible delivery workers are required to bring their uncertified e-bikes and illegal mopeds to the events, which NYC DOT will responsibly dispose of and recycle. The first event, on Thursday, took place at a NYC DOT facility in upper Manhattan. 

The $2 million trade-in program was established in response to Local Law 131 of 2023 sponsored by Council Member Keith Powers. The e-bikes and batteries provided will be certified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet UL 2849 and UL 2271 respectively, the global standards for e-bike and battery quality and fire safety. 

Uncertified batteries are more likely to overheat and ignite, and when they do, these types of fires spread rapidly, generate intense heat, and are challenging to extinguish. 

NYC DOT promoted the applications for the program in six languages between January and March 2025, establishing eligibility requirements to target delivery workers in New York City. 

To receive the e-bike and spare battery, selected participants will have to complete an online safety training course to ensure e-bike users maintain safe riding practices for themselves, for pedestrians, and for other road users.

Charge Safe, Ride Safe. 

In addition to the e-bike trade-in program, 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 allows property owners and tenants to seek approval to install electric micromobility device battery swapping and charging cabinets on sidewalks through Revocable Consent. 

On city streets, NYC DOT has begun installing wider bike lanes on busy routes, including along sections of Second Avenue, Third Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, Ninth Avenue, and Tenth Avenue in Manhattan—as well as along 31st Avenue in Queens. Wider bike lanes provide a comfortable riding experience by creating passing space for e-bike users and promote social, side-by-side riding for families and riders of all ages. 

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.