As the number of fires linked to lithium-ion batteries continues to rise citywide, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams called on the city today to take unilateral action to help prevent this damage and devastation by purchasing and providing fireproof storage bags for e-bike drivers to store their batteries. These low-cost containers are extremely effective in preventing the kinds of fires that have raged across the five boroughs in recent years. At a hearing of the City Council Committee on Fire and Emergency Management today, he pushed for including this expense in the budget.
“We must take immediate action to make New York City safer, and providing riders with both information and equipment is among the most direct ways we can act,” said Public Advocate Williams. “One of the easiest ways to prevent lithium-ion battery fires at the source is using a fire retardant storage case for storing lithium ion batteries at home or at the office. These inexpensive storage cases cost about $20, and protect batteries during the charging process when most vulnerable to overheating and exploding. This relatively affordable investment will pay a huge dividend in decreasing the number of fires as well as saving lives and infrastructure.”
The Public Advocate noted that the containers retail for about $20 each, or $1.3 million to provide a bag for each of the 65,000 delivery e-bike drivers in the city. However, he believes that with New York City’s purchasing power and bulk quantities, it would be possible to equip every delivery driver in the city for as little as $500,000. He emphasized that this cost is minimal relative to the benefits.
Below is the Public Advocate’s full statement to the Committee as prepared.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS
TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON FIRE AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
MARCH 15, 2024
Good Morning,
My name is Jumaane D. Williams and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. Thank you to Chair Ariola and members of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management for holding this hearing and for allowing me to share my statement. Thank you Commissioner and team for being here.
Fire safety is a top concern for New Yorkers. The Preliminary Fiscal 2024 Mayor’s Management Report states that there have been 102 civilian fire fatalities in FY23, which means a civilian death once every three days. This is a sharp increase from FY22 and FY21, with 64 civilian fire fatalities in FY21. Fire safety is a public safety concern, and I appreciate that the Mayor has acknowledged it during his Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 by exempting the FDNY from additional PEGs.
However, more must be done to stem the trend of fire deaths. Under the Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2025, the Mayor's Office’s budget added a 5th firefighter to 20 companies. I support the increase in fifth firefighters and applaud the Adams Administration for supporting fire safety. However, this means that only about 10% of engine companies will have five firefighters, or 20 out of 193 engine companies. Furthermore, this just restores an extremely recent December 2023 cut. This is less of a positive change and more of putting out a fire you’ve started- which in and of itself would be a return to the broken status quo. The Uniformed Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro argues that with an increase in fires and increase in the strength of fires, there needs to be more resources for engine companies. I agree and stand in support of the Uniformed Firefighter Association’s calls for fifth firefighters.
Part of the growth in civilian deaths from fires can be attributed to lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to contain and the fire can spread very quickly, putting civilians and firefighters in danger. On February 2, 2024, Fire Commissioner Kavanaugh announced that lithium batteries are now a leading cause of fires. The FDNY, the Mayor's Office and the collective New York City Council all acknowledge how lithium-ion battery fires are a significant challenge for New Yorkers safety, and have passed life-saving legislation such as restricting reconditioned batteries.
We must continue to look ahead, because micromobility device usage and lithium-ion batteries will only become more commonplace. Our city faces a major challenge and we must respond as comprehensively and quickly as possible. One of the easiest ways to prevent lithium-ion battery fires at the source is using a fire retardant storage case for storing lithium-ion batteries at home or at the office. These inexpensive storage cases protect batteries during the charging process when batteries are most vulnerable to overheating and exploding. Fire retardant bags only cost about $20. This relatively affordable investment will pay a huge dividend in decreasing the number of fires as well as saving lives and infrastructure. We must take immediate action to make New York City safer, and providing riders with both information and equipment is among the most direct ways we can act. With the purchasing power of New York City buying these bags in bulk, it will cost roughly $500,000 to provide a lifesaving tool to the 65,000 delivery workers citywide driving e-bikes for their livelihood. These funds should be allocated to the Fire Department to work with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to distribute fire retardant storage cases, similar to the smoke detector and battery distribution program. Furthermore, delivery apps can mandate that drivers use and own certain equipment, such as possessing a fire retardant storage case, in order to be able to make deliveries, or provide them themselves.
Often in government, we’re forced to make hard decisions about whether the impact of a policy is worth the price tag. Here, though, we have a simple, cost-effective solution that will ultimately save money, and much more importantly save lives. This does not solve the issue fully or forever, but it can have real and immediate impact at a moment when this destruction is constantly on our streets and screens. We are responding far too slowly to the alarms that have been sounding for over a year, and the longer we delay action, the more we’re playing with fire. I urge the administration and Council to fund this purchase and distribution without delay.
In the long term we must redesign New York City’s infrastructure to accommodate electric micromobility devices. These devices help to transport New Yorkers who otherwise may use a car or use a gas-powered moped as well as assist the disabled community. We must encourage wide-scale adoption through addressing outstanding safety concerns. It is now common in South and East Asian countries to see battery swap stations where ebike owners can pay a monthly subscription to swap a dead battery for a fully charged battery, so they do not have to ever charge the device at home. The City should consider creating a franchise agreement for a battery swap system with a singular battery standard, as we already have similar infrastructure in the form of the Citi Bike system. Delivery apps also have a responsibility for supporting infrastructure for its delivery drivers. Companies offering 15-minute delivery local services like Getir already provide charging stations to their drivers. The onus should be on delivery companies to set up charging stations for their drivers.
Finally, the New York City Council Committee on Fire and Emergency Management has been doing an excellent job responding to lithium-ion battery safety concerns by passing comprehensive legislation. The committee must continue to make sure that the legislation is being enforced by holding oversight hearings to determine if the Mayor’s Office has complied with the Local Laws. Thank you.
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