E-bike fire deaths are plummeting in NYC. Here’s the real reason why
If you’ve been following the news on electric bicycle fires in the US, you’ll already know that New York City is widely seen as the epicenter, often catching headlines for battery fires. The city hosts more electric scooters and e-bikes than ever before, and yet this year is seeing a drastic drop in fatalities caused by battery fires.
So if there are more battery-powered mobility devices on NYC’s streets than ever before, why are the fire death figures heading in the opposite direction?
First of all, as we’ve often reported here on Electrek, the phenomenon of an electric bicycle fire, and especially fatalities from electric bicycle fires, are exceeding rare. They get plenty of news coverage because of the old “if it bleeds (or burns), it leads” adage. But the fact of the matter is that there are millions of e-bikes and e-scooters currently rolling around the US and battery fires are incredibly rare.
Even in New York City, which is home to more of these devices than anywhere else in the US, the city saw just 14 fatalities from dozens of e-bike fires in 2023. That isn’t to say the problem isn’t serious but rather to put things in perspective. New Yorkers are 3-5x more likely to die from choking or riding the subway than from a battery fire.
Despite that already low rate, 2024 has seen a major drop in e-bike fire fatalities. As of last month, just four deaths were recorded in battery fires, marking more than a 60% drop compared to 2023, according to the New York Times.
The biggest contributing factor to e-bike battery fires is the prevalence of low-quality batteries produced by ultra-budget manufacturers. These batteries can be attractive to consumers due to their significantly lower prices. Such cheap batteries are commonly used by delivery riders and other low-income workers who rely on their e-bikes for a living, but they come with safety concerns due to unscrupulous production methods.
New York City, for its part, has made a major effort to keep those batteries out, implementing a ban on mobility devices sold with batteries that are not UL-compliant. Since the ban began, city inspectors have visited hundreds of e-bike stores and battery repair shops, helping to enforce the ban on non-conforming batteries.
While this hasn’t completely stemmed the tide of poorly-made batteries, it has certainly helped reduce their availability and the number of cheaply made e-bike batteries out on the street.
NYC has also undertaken major educational programs that have encouraged city residents to charge their batteries safely, meaning either outdoors or in fire-protected areas such as specially designed charging boxes, instead of in the living room of their apartments.
The city has partnered with multiple third-party battery cabinet companies that offer secure locking storage for battery charging and swapping. This enables delivery riders and others to safely and quickly charge their batteries or swap them out for new ones.
Such outdoor charging facilities are becoming somewhat more common, but are still rare in the United States. Companies like Beam have debuted solar-powered charging stations for e-bikes, but the requirement to bring their own wall charger has been a common criticism of such designs.
Other companies, such as Mod Bikes, have debuted e-bike charging stations that provide locking storage for the e-bike chargers.
The variety of different secure charging locations, the crackdown on poorly-made batteries, and the investment in education and public awareness around e-bike fires have likely helped NYC make such a major reduction in e-bike fire fatalities in just the past year.
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We’ve heard it before, that Elon Musk doesn’t want Tesla to ever make an electric motorcycle. But the polarizing CEO has taken to social media to explain why he still says it will never happen.
As Musk confirmed, the issue isn’t that he doesn’t think Tesla could build an electric motorcycle, but rather that he doesn’t think they are safe to begin with.
He replied, “Never happening, as we can’t make motorcycles safe,” in response to an AI video about a fake Tesla motorcycle uploaded to his X platform (formerly Twitter).
Musk then referenced a previous story he has told several times about how he was nearly killed by a truck while riding a motorcycle in his youth.
Though he seemed to direct his feelings more towards street motorcycles. “Dirt bikes are safe if you ride carefully,” continued Musk, “as you can’t be smashed by a truck.”
Tesla’s own Autopilot features have long been criticized for their danger to motorcyclists, with several high-profile deaths caused by Tesla vehicles striking motorcycles while operating under Autopilot. Many have suggested that the company’s vision-focused self-driving setup confuses the more narrowly spaced paired tail lights on the back of cruiser motorcycles for a car farther in the distance, potentially explaining why Teslas have repeatedly rear-ended motorcyclists, with fatal results.
The electric motorcycle industry may not get a Tesla halo anytime soon, but it’s hardly standing still. Legacy brands like Honda, BMW, and Kawasaki are finally rolling out real production models, while companies such as Zero and LiveWire continue pushing the segment forward with higher performance and growing dealer support. Smaller companies like Ryvid have jumped to meet the demand for affordable commuter-focused motorcycles, while Asia’s giants such as Yadea and NIU are flooding the market with affordable scooters, driving global adoption far faster than in the US.
It appears that even without Tesla, electric motorcycling is expanding rapidly, innovating quickly, and attracting more riders every year.
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Climate XChange’s Annual EV Raffle is back for the 10th year running – and for the first time ever, Climate XChange has two raffle options on the table! The nonprofit has helped lucky winners custom-order their ideal EVs for the past decade. Now you have the chance to kick off your holiday season with a brand new EV for as little as $100.
About half of the raffle tickets have been sold so far for each of the raffles – you can see the live ticket count on Climate XChange’s homepage – so your odds of winning are better than ever.
But don’t wait – raffle ticket sales end on December 8!
Climate XChange is working hard to help states transition to a zero-emissions economy. Every ticket you buy supports this mission while giving you a chance to drive home your dream EV.
Here’s how Climate XChange’s 10th Annual Raffle works:
The Luxury Raffle
- Grand Prize: The winner can choose any EV on the market, fully customized up to $120,000. This year, you can split the prize between two EVs if the total is $120,000 or less.
- Taxes covered: This raffle comes with no strings – Climate XChange also pays all of the taxes.
- Runner-up prizes: Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance at the 2nd prize of $12,500 and the 3rd prize of $7,500.
- Ticket price: $250.
- Grand Prize Drawing: December 12, 2025.
- Only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle.
The Mini Raffle (New for 2025)
- Grand Prize: Choose any EV on the market, fully customized, up to $45,000. This is the perfect raffle if you’re ready to make the switch to an EV but aren’t in the market for a luxury model.
- Taxes covered: Climate XChange pays all the taxes on the Mini Raffle, too.
- Ticket price: $100.
- Only 3,500 tickets will be sold for the Mini Raffle.
Why it’s worth entering
For a decade, Climate XChange has run a raffle that’s fair, transparent, and exciting. Every ticket stub is printed, and the entire drawing is live-streamed, including the loading of the raffle drum. Independent auditors also oversee the process.
Plus, your odds on the Luxury and Mini Raffles are far better than most car raffles, and they’re even better if you enter both.
Remember that only 5,000 tickets will be sold for the Luxury Raffle and only 3,500 for the Mini Raffle, and around half of the available tickets have been sold so far, so don’t miss your shot at your dream EV!
Climate XChange personally works with the winners to help them build and order their dream EVs. The winner of the Ninth Annual EV Raffle built a gorgeous storm blue Rivian R1T.
How to enter
Go to CarbonRaffle.org/Electrek before December 8 to buy your ticket. Start dreaming up your perfect EV – and know that no matter what, you’re helping accelerate the shift to clean energy.
Who is Climate XChange?
Climate XChange (CXC) is a nonpartisan nonprofit working to help states pass effective, equitable climate policies because they’re critical in accelerating the transition to a zero-emissions economy. CXC advances state climate policy through its State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) – a community of more than 15,000 advocates and policymakers – and its State Climate Policy Dashboard, a leading data platform for tracking climate action across the US.
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The CSC Monterey – one of the most charming little electric scooters on the US market – has dropped to a shockingly low $1,699, down from its original $2,899 MSRP. That’s nearly half off for a full-size, street-legal electric scooter that channels major Honda Super Cub energy, but without the gas, noise, or maintenance of the original.
CSC Motorcycles, based in Azusa, California, has a long history of importing and supporting small-format electric and gas bikes, but the Monterey has always stood out as the brand’s “fun vibes first” model. With its step-through frame, big retro headlight, slim bodywork, and upright seating position, it looks like something from a 1960s postcard – just brought into the modern era with lithium batteries and a brushless hub motor.
I had my first experience on one of these scooters back in 2021, when I reviewed the then-new model here on Electrek. I instantly fell in love with it and even got one for my dad. It now lives at his place and I think he gets just as much joy from looking at it in his garage as riding it.
You can see my review video below.
The performance is solidly moped-class, which is exactly what it’s designed for. A 2,400W rear hub motor pushes the Monterey up to a claimed 30 mph or 48 km/h (I found it really topped out at closer to 32 mph or 51 km/h), making it perfect for city streets, beach towns, and lower-speed suburban routes.
A 60V, roughly 1.6 kWh removable battery offers around 30–40 miles (48-64 km) of real-world range, depending on how aggressively you twist the throttle. It’s commuter-ready, grocery-run-ready, and campus-ready right out of the crate.
It’s also remarkably approachable. At around 181 pounds (82 kg), the Monterey is light for a sit-down scooter, making it easy to maneuver and park. There’s a small storage cubby, LED lighting, and the usual simple twist-and-go operation. And it comes with full support from CSC, a company that keeps a massive warehouse stocked with components and spare parts.
My sister has a CSC SG250 (I’m still trying to convert her to electric) and has gotten great support from them in the past, including from their mechanics walking her through carburetor questions over the phone. So I know from personal experience that CSC is a great company that stands behind its bikes.
But the real story here is the price. Scooters in this class typically hover between $2,500 and $4,500, and electric retro-style models often jump well above that.
At $1,699, the Monterey is one of the least expensive street-legal electric scooters available from a reputable US distributor, especially one that actually stocks parts and provides phone support.
If you’ve been curious about swapping a few car errands for something electric – or you just want a fun, vintage-styled runabout for getting around town – this is one of the best deals of the year.
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