Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is NYC DOT's Public E-Bike Charging (PEC) Program?
The Public E-Bike Charging program – known as “PEC” – is creating a network of e-bike battery swapping cabinets across New York City, providing users with safe battery-swapping stations where electric micromobility users can plug in dead batteries and pick up full ones. PEC addresses the growing danger of uncertified and low-quality lithium-ion e-bike batteries which have been linked to over 900 fires and over 30 deaths in NYC since 2022.
How will the battery swapping cabinets work?
Each cabinet will include batteries that meet the highest fire safety standards set by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), encourage the use of certified batteries and build confidence in the safety of e-bike charging across the city. Cabinets will be weather-resistant, theft-proof and fire-proof structures as well as include battery health monitoring and fire suppression systems.
Who will be able to use these cabinets?
The cabinets will be open to any e-bike user whose bike is compatible with the selected vendor's swappable batteries. NYC DOT will prioritize a system that can provide batteries that are certified to UL Standards and are compatible with popular e-bike models.
How long will it take to swap a battery at a cabinet?
On average, swapping a battery will take less than a minute.
How did NYC DOT select the 50 proposed locations?
Battery swapping cabinets will be placed on sidewalks and plazas, which provide a safer and more practical environment to quickly swap batteries. NYC DOT narrowed down potential site locations based on physical clearances, pedestrian use, and stakeholder input.
NYC DOT prioritized locations in high delivery zones, near restaurants, bike lanes, major streets, and wider sidewalks. The cabinets must also abide by universal clearances on our city's sidewalks. This includes distance from fire hydrants, benches, building entrances, bus stops, and other street objects. We also seek to minimize impact on pedestrian flow and safety and are guided by NYC DOT’s Pedestrian Mobility Plan to keep sidewalk and streets safe and accessible. For more information on these clearance requirements, please visit NYC DOT’s Street Design Manual page.
Why isn't my neighborhood included in the program's focus area?
The first phase of this program is focused on prioritizing commercial corridors within the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) funded grant area where we anticipate the highest demand for this charging infrastructure. If you would like to see a charging cabinet in a different part of the city, you may still share that with us using our feedback page. This information will help us plan future phases of the program.
Additionally, private property owners may petition to install battery swapping and charging cabinets on the sidewalk adjacent to their building through an agreement with NYC DOT called a revocable consent. These installations are not limited to the current PEC project area. Learn more on NYC DOT’s E-Bike Programs webpage.
What happens after the public feedback portal closes?
After this portal closes, NYC DOT will review the feedback and narrow down the sites to approximately 25 locations and then initiate the project’s design phase. A Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a vendor will be released later this year.
How much will it cost to use the cabinets?
NYC DOT will prioritize safe, affordable, and high-quality service. Membership costs will depend on the selected vendor(s) for the program. The vendor will be selected through a competitive process which will be announced later this year.
When will these cabinets be available to the public?
The cabinets are expected to be operational and available for public use in 2028.
Who will be operating these cabinets?
This program will be operated by a private company via a contract with NYC DOT and must comply with requirements set by both NYC DOT and FDNY. The vendor will be responsible for maintenance of the direct area surrounding their product, including general cleaning, graffiti removal, etc. NYC DOT will retain oversight of the cabinets’ design, aesthetics, and pricing. The contract will include penalties should the contractor fail to adequately clean and maintain the stations.
What kind of construction does this project require?
This project will involve short-term, low-impact construction, primarily trenching in the roadbed to bring electrical cables from the nearest manhole to the location on the sidewalk where the cabinet will be installed.
Is there any training or education needed to safely use the swapping cabinets and their batteries?
The battery swapping cabinets are intuitive to use and do not require special training.
If you are a delivery worker who uses a bicycle or e-bike for your work, by law you are required to complete a bicycle safety course. Delivery workers can do this through NYC DOT's Do You Deliver? Safety Training Portal. The training includes content on rules of the road, workers' rights, and safe riding and charging tips. All delivery workers who are participants in the PEC program will be required to complete the course if they haven't already.
If you would like more information about laws that apply to delivery workers using bikes, e-bikes, or cargo bikes, please visit NYC DOT’s Delivery by Bike or E-Bike webpage.
What does it mean for a battery swapping cabinet to be certified to UL standards?
Being certified to UL (Underwriters Laboratories) standards means that a product has been independently tested and verified to meet strict safety, performance, and quality requirements. Both the battery swapping cabinets and the batteries used will be certified.
What else is the city doing to address the battery fire crisis?
The City is addressing the battery fire crisis in several ways:
- In addition to this program, the City Council passed legislation in 2023 banning the sale of uncertified e-bikes and batteries, helping to reduce fire risks and improve safety citywide.
- NYC DOT’s E-Bike Trade-In program in 2025 removed over 400 illegal e-bikes and over 500 hazardous, uncertified, batteries from city streets.
- FDNY requires all battery swapping and charging cabinets to be certified to UL Standards, ensuring they meet established safety standards. Battery swapping cabinet locations that are filed with FDNY before September 1, 2026 will be grandfathered in under FDNY’s Letter of No Objection review process.
- The City is also pushing to improve e-bike safety and reduce risks, including battery-related fire hazards, through ongoing outreach and training initiatives.