E-Bike Battery Swapping Expands In New York City

The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has successfully piloted an e-bike battery swapping program aimed at enhancing safety and convenience for e-bike delivery riders. Between 2022 and 2025, e-bike batteries—particularly non-certified ones—were linked to 900 fires in NYC, causing 30 deaths and 400 injuries. To address this, the pilot launched in March 2024 with five swapping stations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, providing certified, fully charged batteries and reducing the need for home charging, which is a major fire risk. Over five months, 120 riders used the stations nearly 1,000 times, with 84% previously charging at home. The pilot showed that more than half of participants stopped or reduced home charging, improving safety and productivity by allowing riders to spend more time working without carrying extra batteries. Following the pilot’s success, DOT announced plans to expand the program citywide, focusing on high-traffic neighborhoods such as most of Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, Williamsburg