Senator Chuck Schumer joined Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Eric Adams to announce federal funding for e-bike charging stations outside of NYCHA buildings.
Photo by Dean Moses
The Big Apple’s public housing buildings will receive e-bike charging and storage stations thanks to a new federal grant, Mayor Eric Adams, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced Sunday.
The trio publicized the new $25 million measure outside of the Baruch Houses in Lower Manhattan on June 25. Through this new lithium-ion battery safety effort, they say some 173 electric mobility charging and storage stations will be installed outside of more than 50 New York City Housing Authority residences across the five boroughs.
“Being the majority leader ain’t too shabby. We got the grant because it is so, so important,” Senator Schumer said. “’It’s gonna provide safe storage and accessible charging infrastructure to help alleviate the safety concerns. So, we deliver this safety to our NYCHA residents, our deliveristas, and our e-bike and scooter users.”
Sunday’s announcement comes less than a week after a fatal three-alarm fire inside of a Chinatown e-bike repair shop rife with violations related to lithium-ion batteries. This latest tragedy, in which four people were killed and several others were injured, brought the death toll for lithium-ion battery-related blazes up to 13 this year alone, according to the FDNY.
Calling the money a “godsend” and a “lifesaver,” Schumer said the grant will fund the construction, development, and installation of 53 outdoor micro-mobility charging and storage stations. NYCHA applied for the funding, and with the help of Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, the city agency was able to secure $25 million for the effort.
In addition to the funding, both senators have been pushing to pass a bipartisan bill that will set consumer standards for lithium-ion batteries, since many third-party…
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