New York City Li-ion Battery Pack New Project

In New York City, the non-stop metropolis, approximately 65,000 delivery workers traverse over 100 miles daily to provide food and supplies to New Yorkers. Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a surge in the use of e-bikes, cargo bikes, and scooters, which delivery workers rely on for their livelihood.

However, the rise of these lightweight electric vehicles has also brought about an alarming increase in fatal fires caused by unsafe lithium-ion batteries. The concerning escalation in post-sale battery usage and fire incidents is primarily due to overuse and overcharging.

Many delivery workers, often forced to purchase their own vehicles, are compelled to depend on cheaper, unlicensed third-party batteries. These batteries are typically charged at home using counterfeit chargers or old extension cords. The density of city life further exacerbates these risks for themselves, their families, and neighbors.

Safe mobility is urgently needed.

In just 2022, New York City saw 220 fires related to e-bike batteries, compared to only 44 in 2020. In 2023, lithium-ion batteries sparked 268 fires, resulting in 150 injuries and 18 deaths, including a Harlem apartment building where a suspiciously charging battery ignited.

To ensure that outdoor electric micro-mobility tailored for New York City is safe and accessible, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the collaborative innovation project DOT Studio, operated by Newlab, have called for solutions to this problem. Their goal is to explore how technological solutions like battery exchange stations can address these issues. Due to its success, the six-month pilot program launched in 2023 has been extended to 2025.

Despite being a vital part of the commercial sector, delivery riders are often overlooked. As independent contractors, they frequently lack the rights and protections afforded to employees classified as workers—including health insurance, sick leave, and workers' compensation. With a lack of workplace health and safety regulations, coupled with low wages and high accident risks, delivery workers are highly vulnerable to these dangers.

Battery Exchange Solutions

Thus, DOT Studio initiated pilot solutions to tackle the systemic challenges faced by delivery workers, including the safety and accessibility of battery charging methods—minimizing costs, increasing opportunities to use fully charged batteries during workdays, and providing safe alternatives for home charging.

Three startups selected to participate in the pilot—Swobbee, Popwheels, and Swiftmile—tested their technologies at five locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They received ongoing feedback from 118 participating delivery workers. The solutions they explored include multi-modal battery exchange stations, open-air battery charging cabinets, and secure charging bike racks, all aimed at providing participants with safe and reliable charged batteries.

Beyond the pilot, the city has established a new Municipal Sustainable Delivery Office to directly address the rise of electric micro-mobility and its safety challenges while supporting its expansion.

Battery Swapping: A Transition Strategy

Battery exchange stations offer a low-threshold solution to the problems posed by traditional e-bike charging. Delivery workers no longer need to plug in their batteries and wait for hours; instead, they can swap a depleted battery for a fully charged one in under a minute. With advanced software, technology providers can guarantee battery health and allow users to manage charging status in real time. This significantly reduces fire risks associated with batteries and minimizes downtime, enabling workers to make more deliveries and travel greater distances.

In the first six months of the project, 118 active users (and over 700 waitlisted users) completed 12,000 battery swaps, demonstrating the technology's impact. At least 50% of users reported they no longer charge batteries at home. Notably, no fires were reported at any certified charging points or with any certified batteries themselves.

Encouraged by these results, city officials have extended the pilot program to February 2025 and are actively working to install more battery exchange stations across the city, including on sidewalks. Additionally, partners like Swobbee and Popwheels plan to expand their cabinets to private spaces such as parking lots.