Two years after testing outdoor charging cabinets for e-bike batteries, the city’s Transportation Department says it’s ready to roll out a larger network of the devices — and plans to start fielding the chargers by 2027.
“Delivery workers have one of the toughest jobs in New York City,” Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement. “Building a public e-bike charging network is an investment in better working conditions and more peace of mind for working class New Yorkers.”
The refrigerator-sized devices enable e-bike riders to swap or charge their batteries without bringing them inside — an effort to reduce the number of home fires sparked by lithium-ion batteries. The cabinets also will also have integrated fire suppression systems, ventilation, temperature control, and automatic shutoff for overheating batteries.
“By expanding access to safe charging infrastructure in neighborhoods where delivery workers rely on e-bikes the most, the City is taking a critical next step to prevent future tragedies and keep New Yorkers safe,” FDNY commissioner Robert Tucker said in a statement.
Over the next year, the city will begin selecting and preparing 25 sites based on where electric delivery-bike traffic is the highest. Nearly all of Manhattan is under consideration, as is Long Island City, Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg, and sections of the South Bronx.
The first cabinets are slated to be installed in 2027.
Delivery riders will be able to access the cabinets through paid membership in the network, a DOT spokesman said.
The plan comes after a 2023 pilot program that installed the battery cabinets at three public squares in Manhattan.
The two cabinet designs tested in the pilot program — one manufactured by Swobbee, the other by Popwheels — both only charge UL-certified batteries provided by the companies.
Earlier this year, the DOT opened applications for private building owners to install charging cabinets outside their buildings. A source with knowledge told the Daily News that the city has yet to receive any applications for that program.
