FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker joins Mayor Eric Adams, DOT to announce e-bike and battery trade-in program

October 23, 2024

In an effort to help reduce the number of unsafe micromobility devices and lithium-ion batteries used by New York City's food delivery workers, FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker, Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Transportation officials announced the final details of a trade-in pilot program that will launch in 2025.

The details of the program, which will be the first of its kind in the United States, were announced Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Cooper Square in Manhattan.

"Getting uncertified lithium-ion batteries and devices off our city's streets is critically important, and this trade-in program will help do just that," Fire Commissioner Tucker said. "We are grateful to partner with the Department of Transportation on this out-of-the-box initiative that we know will make our city safer for delivery workers, our first responders and the public. Uncertified and malfunctioning batteries are ticking time bombs. They put you in danger, they put your neighbors in danger, and they put FDNY members in danger."

"Thanks to our new trade-in program, eligible frontline delivery workers who keep our city moving will be able to swap their dangerous bikes and batteries for safe versions for free," Mayor Adams said. "This is how we make our city safer and more affordable. This initiative builds on our efforts to help New Yorkers charge safe and ride safe, and our efforts are working, with significantly fewer injuries and deaths from lithium-ion battery fires this year compared to last."

At this time in 2023, there were 224 lithium-ion battery-related fires resulting in 122 injuries and 14 deaths. So far in 2024, there have been 222 fires, 88 injuries and four fatalities caused by lithium-ion batteries.

To learn more details about the trade-in pilot program, go to nyc.gov.