NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) -- The first of five outdoor charging stations was unveiled Thursday in Cooper Square in Manhattan, city officials announced.
Mayor Eric Adams, along with city officials activated the public e-battery charging station to test the safe charging of lithium-ion batteries. This is part of the city's effort to support safe e-bike use and prevent lithium-ion battery fires.
Four other charging sites will also debut in the coming weeks in Brooklyn and Manhattan including 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, Adams announced.
“We count on delivery workers for so much, and they should be able to count on us, too — whether that means fighting for fair pay or making their jobs and livelihoods safer,” said Mayor Adams on Thursday. “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.”
The six-month pilot will be free of cost for participating delivery workers. The Department of Transportation hopes to sign up 100 delivery drivers for the program.
Interested drivers can fill out an Expression of Interest form or attend an onboarding event, at Cooper Square on March 7 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and at the Brooklyn Army Terminal on March 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lithium-ion batteries are now a leading cause of fires and fire deaths in New York City, according to fire officials. Last year, there were at least 17 deaths related to fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
Charline Charles is a digital journalist from Brooklyn who has covered local news along with culture and arts in the New York City area since 2019. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.
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