New York City saw a record number of e-bike fires, injuries and deaths last year, as Democrats continue to push for more e-bikes to combat global warming.
Overall, e-bikes caused 267 fires in the city, killing 18 people and injuring 150, according to Fire Department of New York (FDNY) data shared with Fox News Digital. These numbers represent the highest level of each statistic, with e-bike-related deaths increasing by 200%, fires increasing by 21% and injuries increasing by 2% in the city compared to the previous year.
“As we become increasingly reliant on ultra-small mobility vehicles to make a living in our daily lives, the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries increases. And, as mentioned earlier, this battery alone More than 100 people have died in this city alone,” Democratic New York Mayor Eric Adams said last year at an event about e-bike safety.
“And one of the issues we've noticed is that when you see the batteries taped on, you know they're refurbished,” he continued. “These shops are trying to refurbish batteries and repair them in their own way. This is a safety issue.”
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“These are convenient transportation options for New Yorkers, but defective and illegal devices are finding their way into our homes and streets, starting fires and putting lives at risk,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said last year. said. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Adams and New York City leaders, led by FDNY Secretary Laura Kavanaugh, called for additional regulations on e-bikes last year, calling them “incredibly dangerous devices” as e-bike fires and deaths increase. has been at the forefront of public education campaigns. We explained the dangers of the devices and promoted policies to ensure their safety.
In March 2023, Adams announced the city's ChargeSafe, RideSafe plan to prevent further harmful e-bike accidents. Then, a few months later, the city announced it had won $25 million in federal funding to install 173 outdoor electric bike charging stations. Adams said in December that his administration would soon launch a battery charging pilot program for delivery workers.
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“We know that these fires can cause serious injuries and even death. We are grateful to our city government partners for their thoughtful consideration,” Kavanaugh concluded. Month.
The city government also passed several laws last year regulating lithium-ion batteries sold in New York City and implemented policies to expedite investigations of potentially hazardous conditions associated with lithium-ion batteries. And the issue led New York State Attorney General Letitia James to issue a consumer warning in June, warning New Yorkers of the “significant risks” associated with e-bikes.
Several charred e-bikes and mopeds are seen outside a bike shop in Queens after a battery exploded and burned down the shop. (FDNY)
Despite increased attention to e-bike fire suppression, the FDNY continues to report such incidents.
In the latest example, an electric bike battery exploded at a bike shop in Queens this month, causing a massive explosion and two-alarm fire. Days earlier, an e-bike battery exploded at a public housing complex in the Bronx, killing one person and injuring six others.
FDNY Director John Hodgens previously said the violent nature of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries makes them difficult to extinguish.
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According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), electric bicycles are powered by lithium-ion batteries; prone to fire or explosion. And as e-bikes continue to grow in popularity, the global e-bike industry is expected to grow nearly 200% by 2030, with an estimated value of $118.7 billion, according to Allied Market Research. Cities like , are facing a proliferation of bicycles. Battery ignition.
“As the use of lithium-ion powered products increases, the challenges associated with their associated hazards are on full display every day and in communities around the world. ” Lorraine Carli, NFPA's vice president of outreach and advocacy, said during a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) panel discussion in July.
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In October, the CPSC released a staff report showing micromobility-related injuries have been on the rise since 2017, increasing by an average of about 23% each year. The next day, CPSC Commissioner Mary Boyle announced that the agency would begin considering regulations for electric bicycles, likely to be released in 2025.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said last year that e-bikes are “an incredible way to traverse our communities.” (Jerrod Harris/Getty Images, Demand Justice)
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers continue to promote electric bikes as an important part of efforts to address climate change and decarbonize the U.S. economy.
Last year, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Oregon), Rep. Mike Thompson (California), Adam Schiff, Democrat of California; The United States has introduced the Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart Act for the Environment, which provides Americans with up to $1,500 in credits toward the purchase of an electric bike. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
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“By encouraging Americans to own and use electric bicycles, we are giving them an opportunity to improve the quality of life in their communities and address our nation's climate crisis,” Panetta said.
“E-bikes are a phenomenal way to traverse our communities, combining the beauty of the outdoors with the ease and benefits of sustainable transportation,” Schiff added.
