City leaders announced a first-in-the-nation trade-in program for electric bikes and their lithium-ion battery counterparts on Wednesday. The program is aimed at addressing battery fires that have resulted in eight deaths in the city this year, including a 69-year-old man whose bike ignited in a Brighton 3rd Street building last week.

The new program is for the city's 65,000 delivery workers, who often rely on e-bikes powered by unregulated batteries.

Under the program, eligible workers will have the opportunity to trade in their unsafe e-bikes and batteries for certified devices equipped with UL certification.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, reside in New York City, possess a working e-bike, and have earned at least $1,500 in 2024 as food delivery workers. Selected participants will receive a new e-bike and two certified batteries.

So far this year, the FDNY has responded to 222 battery fires, resulting in 88 injuries and four deaths. While this marks an improvement from 14 deaths recorded at the same time last year, officials emphasize that the trade-in program is a crucial step towards further reducing these fires.

“Our e-bike trading program will save lives,” Mayor Eric Adams stated. “It will save lives and protect the thousands of workers who rely on e-bikes for their livelihoods. We're doing everything in our power to stop these deadly fires and make safe lithium-ion batteries more affordable.”

Eligible delivery workers can begin applying for the program in early 2025.