New York is the most secure large metropolis in America, and we’re working laborious day-after-day to maintain New Yorkers protected from all types of risks — together with these posed by lithium-ion battery fires.
Whereas the rise of battery-powered mobility gadgets has had many constructive results, too many of those gadgets include uncertified lithium-ion batteries that don’t meet security requirements. Many individuals are storing these defective batteries of their houses and in some circumstances, companies are charging tons of of batteries directly, resulting in explosions, fires, and loss of life.
Since 2019, these batteries have began greater than 700 fires, killing 29 of our fellow New Yorkers, injuring practically 450 extra, and inflicting tens of tens of millions of {dollars} in harm. As well as, these fires are rising the dangers confronted by our courageous FDNY members, who typically need to battle harmful situations and poisonous gases once they reply to those fires.
Unsafe lithium-ion batteries are a transparent and current hazard to our metropolis, and our administration is doing all the pieces we will to handle this disaster. Working with the FDNY and Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, we’ve got supercharged our security efforts, stepping up enforcement in opposition to high-risk charging “sizzling spots” and banning the sale of uncertified e-vehicles and refurbished batteries. Governor Hochul has been an excellent associate as nicely, signing key laws that may defend New Yorkers from the risks of unsafe batteries.
The outcome? A major drop in lithium-ion battery associated deaths this yr. In 2023, there have been 18 deaths associated to lithium-ion battery fires; this yr, there was just one up to now — nonetheless one too many, however an essential step in the fitting route and proof that our schooling and prevention efforts are working.
Now, we’re taking one other leap ahead with the launch of the New York Metropolis Secure Charging Accelerator, a groundbreaking new effort to assist make protected charging accessible to all New Yorkers.
We’re going to make it simpler — and quicker — for property house owners to put in public battery charging stations on our metropolis’s sidewalks. These stations will enable for protected battery charging and swapping, rising compliance with security laws, and defending the lives of New Yorkers.
These charging stations will present an alternative choice to dangerous charging websites that block exits, and each one in every of them shall be completely inspected and permitted by the FDNY, the Division of Transportation, and the Division of Buildings.
The Division of Transportation can even be launching America’s first municipal trade-in pilot program, which is able to assist get unsafe e-bikes, e-scooters, and batteries off our streets and substitute them with licensed, high-quality gadgets and batteries.
As well as, we’re working to create the Division of Sustainable Supply, a first-in-the-nation entity which is able to regulate new types of supply transit and guarantee their security.
Lastly, we’re persevering with our public consciousness marketing campaign to tell New Yorkers concerning the risks of unsafe batteries by investing a further $1 million within the FDNY’s public schooling marketing campaign. We should underscore the hazard posed by these gadgets, even when they’re simply being saved improperly. We’d like all New Yorkers to know that uncertified means unsafe, it doesn’t matter what.
Roughly 59 % of final yr’s fires began with out these defective batteries even being plugged in — each New Yorker ought to pay attention to this hazard. Simply as you wouldn’t retailer gasoline in your house or bed room, nobody needs to be conserving these gadgets of their dwelling areas, both.
E-bikes and e-scooters are right here to remain, and there are clear advantages to utilizing these low-cost, low-carbon types of micromobility. However these advantages should go hand-in-hand with up to date security efforts and aggressive enforcement. Working collectively, we’ll guarantee New York Metropolis is once more main the best way and getting battery security carried out proper as we defend New Yorkers’ lives.
