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In an effort to reduce apartment fires caused by issues related to e-battery charging trends, the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) has announced that property owners and tenants in NYC can now apply to install battery swapping and charging cabinets on the sidewalks in front of their properties.
The new program was announced by NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez earlier this week as part of Mayor Eric Adams' "commitment to combat lithium-ion battery fires and support safe e-mobility use," reads an official press release.
To put things simply: in recent years, the increase in use of micromobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters has led to a proliferation of low-quality and uncertified lithium-ion batteries. Combined with unsafe charging practices, the trend has contributed to an increase in fires all around the city. Officials hope to change that by offerings locals a safe way to charge their devices.
Under the new guidelines, the approved cabinets "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 new station will have to comply with specific safety requirements, of course.
"As more and more New Yorkers turn to e-bikes as a safe, affordable and convenient way to get around, we need to do our part to ensure charging is safe and accessible," said Rodriguez in an official statement. "These rules help us continue the important work to expand access to safe e-bike charging options, and I encourage anyone who is interested to check out our new guide."
Those interested can consult the newly published NYC DOT Sidewalk E-Bike Battery Swapping and Charging Cabinets 101 guide, which offers an overview of the application process, including eligibility requirements, site design and more. You can find the booklet right here.