Swiftmile E-Bike Charging Station at Cooper Square | Courtesy of Swiftmile
NEW YORK – A public charging station in Cooper Square in Manhattan’s East Village was activated today as part of the City’s new six-month pilot program to test safe public charging of lithium-ion batteries by an initial group of 100 delivery workers.
The Cooper Square charging station is the first of five planned components of the overall “Charge Safe, Ride Safe: New York City’s Electric Micromobility Action Plan” to support safe e-bike use and prevent deadly lithium-ion battery fires. New York City is among the first major cities in the United States to launch a public e-bike charging pilot program.
“This pilot program we’re kicking off today will give delivery workers the ability to access safe, accessible, outdoor battery-charging that will undoubtedly save lives, and we’re eager to expand this pilot even further,” said Mayor Eric Adams.”We know the incredible potential of e-bikes in our City and it’s on us to make e-bike use even safer.”
The four other outdoor charging sites are located across Manhattan and Brooklyn. The Adams administration selected them based on their high concentrations of e-bike delivery activity and workers. In the coming weeks, the City said the Brooklyn Army Terminal in Sunset Park, Essex Market in the Lower East Side, Plaza De Las Americas in Washington Heights, and Willoughby and Jay Streets in Downtown Brooklyn would be activated.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) developed the pilot through the agency’s DOT Studio, a research and development partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and the urban tech growth hub Newlab.
Swobbee, Popwheels, and Swiftmile are the three companies providing charging infrastructure for the pilot. Swobbee and Popwheels provide swappable battery systems, enabling participating e-bike users to swap a depleted, UL-certified e-bike battery for a fully-charged battery at designated outdoor battery cabinets. Swiftmile provides a secure charging bike rack where participating e-bike users can lock up their bikes and charge while parked.
Their technologies include fire safety features, ranging from automatic shutoff if a battery is overheating to fire suppression systems. The FDNY, a key partner in the pilot, reviewed product development and will inspect each pilot location during installation and throughout the program.
Only participating delivery workers will be able to take part in the six-month pilot free of cost. DOT said it would sign as many as 100 delivery workers up to participate in the pilot program, and workers will provide continuous feedback about their experience with the charging technologies and hubs during that time.
Interested workers can fill out an Expression of Interest form or attend an onboarding event at Cooper Square on March 7, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on March 8, 2024, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
