Delivery workers using e-bikes in New York City will now be safer thanks to a new pilot project aimed at helping prevent battery fires in electric micromobility vehicles and improving access to charging infrastructure.
The project is a collaboration with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Newlab, a venture platform focused on climate and deep tech. The initial pilots include three companies: Swobbee, Popwheels, and Swiftmile.
As part of this project, Swobbee will complete the installation of four battery swapping stations in NYC, which will initially serve 30–60 workers. Workers on e-bikes can quickly swap out their vehicle’s UL-certified battery and replace it with a fresh one, reducing wait times and ensuring that batteries are charged safely. Results from the project will be used to assess the technology’s fit and usability for the City’s delivery workers, and to inform Swobbee’s broader rollout in New York.
“We are extremely excited about this opportunity to contribute to New York’s mobility transition and to offer delivery drivers a reliable charging solution. Our swapping stations were specifically designed to tackle challenges like this,” said Stephan von Wolff, Swobbee US managing director.
“To ensure maximum safety for the delivery workers, we’re introducing the safest battery technology around. This lithium ferrophosphate (LFP) technology outperforms any conventional lithium-ion alternative – and with a lower total cost of ownership. We’re convinced that this accessibility and safety can serve as a blueprint for the city’s approach to fire safety and sustainability moving forward.”
Battery fires
The instance of fires caused by batteries in electric micromobility vehicles in NYC has gone up from 44 in 2020 to 220 in 2022, according to New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Battery fires, which often result from improper charging or physical damage, pose an increasing danger for workers as third-party delivery grows and e-mobility becomes more popular in the industry. New York’s approximately 65,000 delivery drivers must provide their own e-bikes for work, increasing their exposure to fire risks from inexpensive but low-quality batteries.
To address these, DOT, EDC and Newlab issued a call for pilots last year, seeking novel technologies to make electric micromobility charging safer and more dependable while meeting the daily needs of delivery workers.
Commenting on the pilot project with Swobbee, Shaina Horowitz, vice president of applied innovation at Newlab, said, “First-of-their-kind collaborative pilots like this are essential to de-risking new technologies and shaping solutions so that they work for people and for our city. This work epitomizes Newlab’s focus on scaling real-world solutions to urgent challenges that are critical to our sustainable future, and we are thrilled to partner with Swobbee to get their technology deployed in New York City.”
“This partnership is a great example of technology being used to its highest potential,” added Jennifer Dungs, global head of mobility at EIT InnoEnergy, one of Swobbee’s leading investors. “I’m proud to see Swobbee contributing to the development of a robust battery-swapping network and making e-mobility safer for everyone by creating a simple way to access healthy batteries anytime. It’s more than just providing charging and batteries; ultimately, it’s about creating conditions that support the needs of delivery drivers and other e-mobility users.”
NYC sustainable delivery department
In January 2024, New York City Mayor Eric Adams outlined a future-focused vision for the city, including the development of the USA’s first Department of Sustainable Delivery.
In response to the rise of e-bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes and other non-traditional transportation modes on New York City streets and sidewalks, the administration is in discussions with the New York City Council to create the New York City Department of Sustainable Delivery. The department will prioritize safety while harnessing the potential of these new forms of transportation.
You can read more on that story here.