A year is ending that counts 18 deaths, 126 injuries from burns and 253 fireswhich have something in common: They were caused by explosions of lithium batteries, used to charge bicycles and electric skateboardsaccording to official accounts of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
In the last four months, although the City has put in place new regulations to remove “pirate” chargers and generators from the market, it has expanded educational campaigns so that users can charge these means of transportation safely. This trend has only increased painfully.
The last scene of horror among flames from last Sunday caused the death of a 39-year-old Hispanic man and six injuredin an apartment in the River Houses Public Housing Complex in The Bronx, an incident that once again made the authorities recognize that so far the package of actions taken to stop these fires, has to move to another direction.
And almost two days later, this Wednesday, Two people were seriously burned in a house fire in Brooklyn.in an illegal repair shop for this equipment.
New plan for 2024
Almost within hours of these two events, Mayor Eric Adams announced plans to launch a lithium-ion battery charging program in early 2024, which will allow delivery drivers to safely load their bicycles in public spaces.
The plan will test a variety of technologies at multiple locations across the city, developed as part of a strategy launched in March called “Charge Safely, Ride Safely.”to protect New Yorkers from fires caused by these generators.
These technologies will include battery-swapping networks as well as secure bicycle parking docks that provide fast charging to the electric bicycles of the deliveristas.
The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) developed the pilot through the DOT Studio, a research partnership with the City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Newlab, the urban technological growth center.
Over the past six months, the DOT has worked with the FDNY and delivery workers, to identify several companies thatproduce unique, safe and convenient electronic battery charging options.
This pilot builds on several other initiatives to develop more out-of-home charging options for New Yorkers, including establishing “drop-off centers” in empty kiosks in association with Los Deliveristas Unidos and Senate Majority Leader Schuck Schumer.
In addition, there is a subsidy from $25 million from the federal governmentto install 173 outdoor electric micromobility charging and storage stations in 53 developments of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
“We know that these fires can cause serious injury and even death. We are advancing innovative thinking about how we can adopt this new technology and at the same time protect lives”said FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh.
“It is not just a matter for the delivery workers”
In this sense, the director of the Labor Justice Project, Ligia Guallpa appreciates that this plan, which will start in the next quarter, means a “crucial step” for thousands of delivery workers.
“The plan recognizes and values the dignity of all those who travel through our streets, having in these means of transportation, your main work tool”, highlighted the activist.
In this complex dynamic, although a large part of the electric bicycles in the Big Apple are used by thousands of delivery drivers, The expansion of these means of micromobility is not exclusive to this sector.
In fact, as he maintains the Guatemalan delivery driver, Miguel Santiguez, 24 years old, many of the massive and fatal incidents are not associated with these workers’ bicycles. Although this sector does suffer the greatest consequences.
“We have educated ourselves on how to use them properly. We try to manipulate them well. We know how to prevent them from becoming explosives. All this causes them not to even want to rent us a room, because they don’t want bicycles, not even near buildings.”he said.
It is prohibited to have electric bicycles
Already in some buildings in the five boroughs, tenants are being radically prohibited fromhave these micromobility equipment.
Many landlords already include as a condition for renting a property that you cannot under any circumstances have bicycles, nor electric skateboards on their properties.
These prohibitions have another underlying reason.
Jay Martin, Executive Director of the Community Housing Improvement Programtold the digital publication Gothamist, that insurance companies are indeed pressuring building owners over the risks of e-bikes.
“The owners are incentivized to proactively punish the tenant of these batteriesbecause frankly, they are afraid of losing their insurance coverage if it is discovered that they have tenants with this equipment,” he said.
Laws go, fires continue
In the first quarter of 2023, the Municipal Council approved a series of five pieces of legislation, which, among other measures, restricts the sale, lease or rental of motorized mobility devices, such as electric bicycles and electric scooters, and storage batteries for devices that do not meet recognized safety certifications.
To be legally sold, this equipment and its storage batteries must have been certified by an accredited testing laboratory to meet applicable safety standards of Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Many deliverers realize that it is very expensive for them to acquire certified batteries because they are three times more expensive. While a “regular” one costs $100, those certified between $300 and $400.
Since the application of this rule, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP), in consultation with the FDNY, is not only obligated to educate the public about the risks of these fires, but to take some root measures.
At the end of this year, DCWP spokespersons report that since the beginning of the application of this legislation, in mid-September, it has issued subpoenas to 82 traditional retailers for selling, leasing or renting uncertified lithium-ion batteries or the devices that use them (electric bicycles, scooters, mopeds).
Additionally, this municipal agency has issued 40 cease and desist letters and 14 subpoenas to online retailersfor breach of the law.
Another delivery worker consulted by El Diario, Miguel Cazabero, 28 years old,He assures that part of the problem in the expansion of the fires is that most of the measures have been specifically directed at the delivery workers, while in reality the number of electrical transportation devices, of all types, is counted in thousands of thousands.
“It is our work tool, but they are the means of transportation for thousands of people who do not want to take the Subway. If we do the math correctly, the education campaign must also be for everyone,” he commented.
FDNY alerts in this dangerous season
This specific type of fire situation are particularly serious and difficult to extinguishspread quickly and produce harmful fumes, FDNY has repeatedly exposed.
Now with the cold season, where the possibilities of these fatalities multiply, due to improper use of electric heatersand gas stoves, this winter season faces new challenges, for a city that has been forced to reduce the budget of this municipal agency by 5% due to the migration crisis.
In just three years, fires caused by lithium batteries have become equal to fire emergencies due to electrical causes. And they have surpassed those caused by cooking and smoking.
For this reason, this week the fire agency began a series of educational actions to face a time where there are more risks and where the availability of “firefighting” officers, everything indicates will be reduced.
According to the FDNY union, “There are fewer firefighters”in the Big Apple due to city budget cuts.
The Uniformed Firefighters Association confirmed that the position of “fifth firefighter” of 20 companies.
A statement explains that “the fifth man position is a contractually agreed number that depends on medical leave levels. There are only 20 companies in the entire city that have that position. And it is routinely added and removed, to address staffing needs based on medical licensure.”
Remember in this time of festivities and cold:
- If you are decorating for the holidays try using flameless candles, candle holders with mini batteries are safer. Fires started by candles They peak in December and January. If you use real candles for some reason, Never leave them on unattended.
- Not only are fireworks dangerous in New York City, they are also illegal. The possession or use of these devices containing gunpowder is a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment, fine, or both.
- New York City Law 106prohibits the sale of electric heaters that do not have automatic shut-off capabilities. And it is required that these artifacts that are sold in theBig Apple are labeled by a recognized testing laboratoryat the national level.
- If you are forced to use portable heaters, make sure they are properly labeled, certified, have a thermostat and turn off automatically.
- Never use a gas or electric oven. as a “substitute” to heat your homein the event of a heating failure in your residential unit.
- Buy your e-bike and battery from a store with a trusted manufacturer.
- Carefully check the condition of your battery constantly, if it presents any damage do not try to repair it yourself.
- Charge your battery using just the cable and power adapter provided by the manufacturer and avoid doing it at all costs inside your residence, while you are asleep.
tragic numbers:
- 30 tragedies caused by fires where they were involved lithium batteries in 2019.
- 254 fires for this same reason in 2023.
- From 2019 to 2022, these fires caused an average of three deaths and 66 injuries per year. So far in 2023, these batteries have already caused 18 deaths and 133 injuries.
- 5 deaths in fires were confirmed by FDNY in 2021, four of which were due to lithium-ion battery fires.
