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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The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.
This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.
But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.
Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.
“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.
The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.
Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.
With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.
Read more: Ørsted got a huge Tesla battery storage system for the world’s single-largest offshore wind farm
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Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV lease prices
After unveiling its first global electric SUV, Jeep’s CEO said the Wagoneer S “marks a new chapter” in its storied history.
Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.
The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.
Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.
The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.
Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.
Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.
According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.
| Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y | Starting Price | Range | Lease Price |
| Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition | $71,995 | +300 miles | $599/mo |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | $44,990 | 320 miles | $299/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD | $47,990 | 308 miles | $399/mo |
| Tesla Model Y AWD Performance | $51,490 | 279 miles | $599/mo |
In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.
Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.
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