new york — Lithium-ion battery-related fires occurred over the weekend. Brooklyn warehouse Hundreds of electric bicycles and other mobility devices were stored there.
The New York City Council is now trying to tackle the problem with a different approach: going after third-party delivery companies. As the lithium-ion battery fire crisis continues to unfold, officials say it’s time for delivery companies to share responsibility.
A new bill proposed by City Councilman Oswaldo Feliz would require delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub to provide safe, certified e-bikes to workers who don’t have them.
“These delivery companies have their biggest market here in New York City, and we’ve seen a lot of fire safety issues posed by these e-bikes. “It’s unfair to pretend that this is happening,” Ferris said.
At Monday’s oversight hearing, food delivery workers called for approval of the bill.
“Delivery apps are accumulating billions of dollars a year, but they’re not giving delivery workers any benefits. So I think it’s really important that delivery apps take responsibility and start programs.” said food delivery operator William Medina. worker.
Several food delivery companies testified to the contrary, outlining concerns about possible fraud.
“As written, one interpretation is that companies like DoorDash would actually have to buy e-bikes and batteries for personal use. They could quit DoorDash tomorrow and Uber Eats the next day. “You can sign up for an Uber Eats. Uber Eats is an electric bike, but there’s no mechanism to control it,” said Tony Anaya of DoorDash.
So far this year, lithium-ion batteries have caused 222 fires, 121 injuries and 14 deaths, according to the FDNY.
Advocates said these alarming numbers require all parties to work together to find a solution.
“We really need to be comprehensive, and that’s the purpose of today’s hearing,” said Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez.
Ferris said he expects pushback from food delivery companies and is committed to working with them to find common ground. The current bill does not outline fines for potential violations, but Ferris said there is nothing wrong with that.
