Regulators mull safety standards for lithium-ion batteries

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on Thursday heard testimony about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries found in electronic bikes and scooters. Consumer advocates and fire department officials urged the commission to establish mandatory safety requirements for the batteries. New York City had 131 battery-related fires this year that killed 13 people, said City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. Similar fires killed six people in the city in 2022.

Have others called for similar regulations? New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand in April introduced legislation to regulate the batteries. Starting in September, New York City will require companies that sell e-bikes to certify them through an independent testing company. There are currently no federal safety standards for the batteries, Schumer said, and the lack of control has allowed poorly-made batteries to flood the American market.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Muncy’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about how lithium-ion batteries are made for cars.