Swappable e-bike batteries bring cleaner power to street vendors
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Start-up PopWheels has developed a network of fire-safe battery swap cabinets throughout Manhattan to improve safe charging practises for delivery workers across New York City. Now the company is looking to extend its sustainability efforts by piloting a system that powers food carts using interchangeable e-bike batteries, to eliminate the need for small petrol-powered generators.
New York City’s food carts have long been a defining feature of its streets, though they have traditionally relied on noisy, smoke-producing petrol-powered generators to supply electricity.
PopWheels offers a quieter, emissions-free alternative for street vendors, contributing to a more sustainable urban environment. Its system powers food carts with the same swappable lithium-ion batteries that serve the city’s e-bike delivery network.
Completion of battery-powered demonstration
The company recently completed its first full-scale demonstration at La Chona Mexican, a food cart operating at a busy Manhattan junction. Vendors nearby commented on noticeable differences including the absence of generator noise, exhaust fumes, and vibration.
Origins in e-bike battery safety
PopWheels was originally founded in response to the serious safety issue of unsafe charging practices among delivery riders that contributed to a rise in e-bike battery fires across New York City.
To address the problem, PopWheels developed a network of fire-safe battery swap cabinets throughout Manhattan, with stations allowing delivery workers to exchange depleted batteries for fully charged ones in a matter of seconds.
The company has since expanded to dozens of swap locations, primarily serving gig workers riding Arrow and Whizz e-bikes. Riders pay a monthly subscription fee that provides unlimited battery swaps, reducing reliance on informal charging setups at convenience stores or other unsafe locations.
Food carts as the next step
As its network grew, PopWheels recognised a broader opportunity: using its same safe charging and battery distribution infrastructure beyond micromobility.
Food carts became a logical next application. Although most cooking equipment relies on propane, vendors still need electricity for lighting, refrigeration, fans, and point-of-sale systems. Traditionally, that power has come from small petrol generators that can cost around $10 per day in fuel, and which produce significant noise and air pollution.
How the battery swap system works
PopWheels estimates that four of its batteries (totaling roughly 5 kilowatt-hours) can meet the lower end of a cart’s daily electrical needs. For higher-demand operations, a midday battery swap could provide additional power. While costs are comparable to petrol, the battery swap system offers major benefits in reduced emissions and improved street conditions.
Unlike traditional battery-powered generators, which must be recharged once depleted, PopWheels’ swapping approach treats energy as a refillable commodity. Instead of waiting hours to recharge, vendors can simply exchange batteries in minutes, with the convenient timing being similar to refueling with petrol.
Vendor response and citywide potential
Following an early prototype test at a climate-focused event, PopWheels partnered with the Street Vendor Project to bring the concept into real-world operation. The Manhattan demonstration marked the first time a cart successfully ran for an entire day using swappable e-bike batteries.
Interest from other vendors was immediate. With the generator noise gone, nearby cart operators reportedly approached the team to learn how the technology worked and whether it could be adopted more widely.
City officials have been seeking strategies to reduce emissions from food carts without placing additional financial strain on vendors. A battery-based system supported by existing infrastructure could represent a rare solution that is cost-neutral, cleaner, and easier to implement.
A flexible energy network solution for crowded cities
This project signals a promising solution, extending an e-bike safety initiative into a flexible energy network for densely populated urban areas. By powering not only bikes but also street carts and other small-scale commercial operations, it offers a glimpse into how cities could adopt more sustainable energy practices in the future