Distribution of 400th E-bike as Part of E-bike Trade-in Program to Cut Down on Deadly Battery Fires

Certified E-bikes and batteries distributed for the E-Bike Trade-In Program. Photo Credit: NYC DOT

Launched Earlier This Year, the E-Bike Trade-In Program Allowed Eligible Delivery Workers To Trade in Unsafe E-Bikes and Batteries and Illegal Mopeds for Safe, Certified E-Bikes and Batteries

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NYCDOT is completing its distribution of 402 fire-safe, certified e-bikes and batteries today as part of its E-Bike Trade-In Program. Through this initiative, NYC DOT selected 402 delivery workers to receive one certified e-bike and two certified batteries at no cost in exchange for their uncertified e-bikes and batteries and illegal mopeds. The trade-in pilot aims to reduce the risk of deadly lithium-ion battery fires, often caused by uncertified equipment, and enhance street safety by getting faster and heavier illegal mopeds off our streets.

NYC DOT will now launch a multilingual feedback survey and conduct a full evaluation of the program. The survey will be available in five languages and will collect input on the program’s application and booking system, in-person trade-in process, the performance of the new bikes and batteries, how participants are using the equipment, and overall impressions. Lessons learned could inform a potential future phase of the program, pending additional funding.

Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan, is a program which promotes public safety amid the rapid growth of e-bike use and lithium-ion batteries. In addition to getting faster and heavier illegal mopeds off the streets, the program also allows NYC DOT to ensure the proper disposal of all retired e-bikes, mopeds, and uncertified batteries so that unsafe equipment is fully removed from circulation. Because uncertified batteries haven’t been independently tested to meet industry safety standards, they are more likely to overheat, ignite, and cause fast-spreading fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish.

The $2 million pilot program was established in response to Local Law 131 of 2023, sponsored by New York City Council Member Keith Powers.