The Big Apple is facing a surge in often deadly fires related to electric bike batteries, prompting a municipal response through the installation of public charging stations.
These modes of transport, less revered in the United States than in Europe, are currently in the spotlight due to disasters directly linked to their batteries.
An alarming increase in fires
The figures from the New York Fire Department (NYFD) are indicative of the crisis. While only 30 such fires were seen in 2019, the number climbed to 104 in 2021, and reached 220 in 2022, with a frightening acceleration in 2023, where 268 outbreaks were recorded.
Even more worrisome is the increase in fatal cases: after 6 deaths in 2022, there were 18 deaths and 150 injuries the following year.
From January to February 2024, more than 30 incidents have been counted, placing this cause as a major concern for city authorities.
In a recent tragic news story, an electric bike battery is said to be the cause of a fire in Harlem on February 26, which claimed the life of a journalist and injured 22 other people.
The fire started in an apartment shared by six couriers.
A question of sustainability and compliance
In the United States, where regulations are less strict than in Europe, batteries seem to be more prone to faults, particularly due to overheating during charging and voltage surges.
Daniel Flynn, chief of the NYFD, highlights the insufficient awareness of the risks associated with the wear of battery cells purchased several years ago.
This is compounded by online sales of non-compliant and incompatible batteries with original electric bikes. These products are part of a parallel market for electrification kits, often installed artisanally by users.
It is worth noting that the term “ebike” also includes scooters and that in general, the issue affects the entire micromobility sector.
Faced with these risks, many private and public establishments throughout the city now prohibit access to bicycles and other electric vehicles, particularly frustrating couriers who depend on these tools for their work.
New York’s response: dedicated charging stations
To combat this scourge, the city of New York recently inaugurated a charging station for electric bikes in Manhattan.
This site is mainly intended for delivery personnel, with lockable lockers that allow charging one battery while using a second. This new arrangement also includes spaces for parking and charging bikes.
This is just one of the five stations of this type that will be part of a pilot program set up for a duration of six months.
This service will be offered free of charge to a hundred professionals in the city, subject to registration. Such facilities are crucial, although the initial announcement by Mayor Eric Adams in June 2023 envisioned a more ambitious project with “dozens of stations” for an investment of 25 million dollars.
The municipality also encourages citizens to report any feeling of insecurity related to these batteries, promising inspections within 12 hours following the call.
Note that this fire problem is not limited to New York, but affects the entire United States, highlighting the need for a coordinated response, whether at the state level or federally.
Conclusion
New York faces the repercussions of the increasing use of electric bikes with a worrying number of incidents.
These preventative measures, such as charging stations, represent a step forward for the city but also seem to underline the necessity of increased regulation and awareness of the inherent dangers of micromobility batteries.