PopWheels and Settlement Housing Fund Launch First-Ever Partnership to Fight Battery Fires in Affordable Housing
New infrastructure brings innovative battery-swapping to residents in the SHF portfolio
Contact: Ashley Solage, asolage@shfinc.org; or Judy Herbstman, jherbstman@shfinc.org at Settlement Housing Fund
Brooklyn-based battery-swapping company PopWheels and Settlement Housing Fund (SHF) today announced the first-ever partnership to fight battery fires in New York City affordable housing. PopWheels has brought fire-safe, e-mobility battery-swapping stations to SHF’s historic Two Bridges Tower, located at the edge of Chinatown, and will be adding similar infrastructure at other affordable housing complexes in the SHF portfolio. This initiative is designed to give residents a safe alternative to charging uncertified e-bike batteries inside their apartments, which is a major issue in neighborhoods hit hardest by battery fires. As a result of this partnership, Two Bridges Tower residents will have 24/7 access to fully-charged, UL-certified batteries right outside their homes and also at any of PopWheels’s approximately 50 stations across the five boroughs. SHF residents will receive access to the outdoor battery stations at a highly discounted, affordable residential rate.
PopWheels Co-founder David Hammer, NYC Council Member Christopher Marte, Two Bridges Tower Resident Association Representative Aruna Hekinian, and SHF President Judy Herbstman (Gibson Chu/PopWheels)
Chinatown has faced a scourge of deadly lithium-ion battery fires, most notably a fire on Madison Street that killed four New Yorkers in 2023. Many such fires have occurred at affordable housing developments where residents rely on e-mobility devices for livelihood and transportation, but the use of uncertified batteries and risky charging behaviors put all residents at risk.
The safe charging installation at Two Bridges Tower is supported by the Con Edison E-Micromobility Power Ready Program and was developed in partnership with the Two Bridges Tower Resident Association.
PopWheels President David Hammer said, “Battery fires are not just a technology problem; they’re also an affordability problem. The neighborhoods most affected by these devastating fires deserve the greatest investment in solutions. Together with Settlement Housing Fund, we’re making safe, certified batteries accessible to affordable housing residents, while building a model that can serve New Yorkers across the City.”
Settlement Housing Fund President Judy Herbstman said, “Settlement Housing Fund is excited to partner with PopWheels to bring their innovative lithium-ion battery charging stations and fire-extinguishing cabinets to several of our affordable housing developments. This first installation at Two Bridges Tower will be a tremendous asset for our residents who rely on e-bikes for work and transportation and will provide a safe and convenient way to charge e-bikes.”
Two Bridges Tower Resident Association President Trever Holland said, “Many of our residents rely on e-bikes for work and transportation, but charging batteries inside apartments can create serious safety risks for everyone in the building. We welcome this partnership with PopWheels, Settlement Housing Fund, Two Bridges Neighborhood Council and Con Edison, which gives residents a safer and more affordable option while helping people remain mobile. This is an important step forward for our building and for the broader Two Bridges community.”
New York City Comptroller Mark Levine said, “As micromobility becomes a larger part of how New Yorkers get to work and earn a living, we need infrastructure that keeps both riders and communities safe. I commend PopWheels and Settlement Housing Fund for leading the way to
advance public safety, affordability, and mobility at the same time.”
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “The battery fire crisis is a citywide challenge that requires innovative solutions. This partnership between PopWheels, Settlement Housing Fund, and community advocates demonstrates how the public and private sector can work together to make neighborhoods safer while expanding access to efficient, affordable transportation.”
New York City Council Member Christopher Marte said, “Our district has experienced the devastating consequences of battery fires firsthand. Expanding access to safe charging infrastructure is an important step toward preventing future tragedies. I’m proud to welcome this partnership between PopWheels and Settlement Housing Fund to protect our residents and make sustainable transportation more accessible.”
Con Edison’s PowerReady Micromobility Program Manager Melanie Ho said, “Safe, reliable charging infrastructure is key to the future of micromobility. We’re proud to support projects that make safer charging options more accessible and affordable for communities that rely on micromobility, including those at SHF. We’re excited to partner with organizations like PopWheels to help expand access to dependable micromobility charging solutions across New York City.”
This partnership comes as lithium-ion battery fires have become an increasing concern in residences across the City, with many recent incidents highlighting the dangers of charging uncertified batteries indoors. PopWheels’s battery-swapping model removes that risk by allowing riders to exchange depleted batteries for fully-charged, UL-certified batteries at secure outdoor stations around the clock. The company’s stations are equipped with proprietary fire-suppression technology designed to contain and extinguish battery-related incidents in the unlikely event they occur. Shifting battery charging into purpose-built infrastructure and out of homes, public buildings, and transit also lowers costs for riders and supports the growth of safe electric micromobility in urban environments.
Last year, PopWheels launched the first battery-swapping hub in the United States, located in Hudson Square in NYC. Earlier this year, PopWheels opened the first such hub in Canada. PopWheels now operates approximately 50 battery-swapping stations in NYC as well as in cities across North America.
About PopWheels
PopWheels is a New York City-based company dedicated to making electric micromobility safer, more affordable, and more accessible. The company builds and operates battery-swapping infrastructure that allows riders to exchange batteries instead of charging them at home, reducing fire risk and improving reliability. With deployments across New York City, Philadelphia,
Washington, D.C., and Toronto, PopWheels is bringing safer charging solutions to cities around the world.
About Settlement Housing Fund (SHF)
Settlement Housing Fund is a 57-year-old nonprofit organization focused on affordable housing development and resident services in New York City, overseeing 3,147 affordable units in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Settlement Housing Fund creates, preserves, and sustains high-quality affordable housing that revitalizes neighborhoods and enables residents to thrive. It serves vulnerable, low- and moderate-income households, helping them achieve long-term stability and well-being. Based in New York City, its innovative model integrates affordable Housing, social services, community programs, and neighborhood resources to build vibrant and inclusive communities. It developed Two Bridges Tower in Lower Manhattan with the community-based Two Bridges Neighborhood Council (TBNC) to provide 198 units of affordable housing, including households leaving shelters, as well as space for other nonprofits and community facilities that include a playground and rain garden for residents.
About Settlement Housing Fund:
Settlement Housing Fund creates and sustains high quality affordable housing and programs, building strong and economically diverse neighborhoods throughout New York City. Settlement Housing Fund works closely with community partners to provide low‐ and moderate‐income New Yorkers with pathways to long‐term affordable housing, education, employment, and wellness. Since its founding in 1969, the organization has developed 73 projects with over 9,000 apartments – rentals, cooperatives, and two-family houses – that are home to more than 25,000 low- and moderate- income residents, including a substantial number of families that have experienced homelessness.
For more information, visit www.settlementhousingfund.org or connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube.