Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a press conference in Brooklyn with State Senator Iwen Chu in support of her bipartisan Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. Senator Gillibrand is pushing to include the legislation in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Fatal fires caused by faulty lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices continue to put communities across Brooklyn at risk. In New York City alone, FDNY has identified more than 600 of these battery fires since 2021, resulting in more than 400 injuries, 29 deaths and damage to hundreds of structures. This bill, which passed the House of Representatives this May, would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to finally establish a mandatory consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries.
“This commonsense solution would create the first-ever mandatory consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices and help save innocent lives across the country. This bipartisan legislation passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year, and now I’m fighting for its inclusion in the FY25 NDAA,” said Senator Gillibrand. “So many New Yorkers rely on micromobility devices to make a living wage, and they deserve for those devices to be safe and reliable. Far too many innocent lives have been lost to these devastating fires. I am so proud to fight for this bill alongside Senator Chu in Brooklyn, and I won’t stop working until this bill makes it to the president’s desk.”
“Electric assist mobility devices are essential for New York workers, but the dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries have gone unchecked for too long, leading to too many fires in our communities. In New York, we have already signed an e-bike safety package into law, but federal support is essential for full implementation,” said State Senator Iwen Chu. “Today, we call on the federal government to include the bipartisan Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act in the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). With federal support, New York will have a stronger tool to enforce the e-bike safety package law, further preventing injuries, saving lives, and reducing property damage.”
“Passing this bill in the Senate is critically important to national safety. This is not just a New York City issue,” said New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “Lithium-ion batteries are killing Americans and putting firefighters and residents across the nation in danger every day. This bill will set a basic safety standard for consumers, so they can be assured that when they buy a micro-mobility device, they aren’t bringing an uncertified, potentially explosive device into their home or business. We thank Senator Gillibrand and the bipartisan group of legislators who support public safety by championing this bill. We look forward to its passage in the Senate.”
“Lithium ion battery safety has been a top priority of mine after my district experienced a number of serious fires linked to these types of batteries. I am proud to support Senator Gillibrand’s legislation to set a federal consumer standard on lithium-ion batteries and build upon the work of so many. With the massive increase of e-bikes as an alternative form of travel, we know all too well that without safeguards, battery manufacturers will continue to flood the market with faulty batteries that put people at risk. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues at all levels of government to develop smart, comprehensive policy to address the risks from batteries,” said Council Member Alexa Avilés.
“The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) sends our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of e-bike lithium-ion battery fires, and stands ready to continue helping anyone affected by these incidents with wraparound services and support. We must continue pushing for safer e-bikes so that Asian American, immigrant, and low-income New Yorkers can safely work, commute, and live,” said Steve Mei, Director of CPC Brooklyn Community Center.
In the Senate, this bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (NY), Marsha Blackburn (TN), and Mike Braun (IN). Representative Ritchie Torres leads the bill in the House, and it is cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Pat Ryan (NY-18), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Anthony D’Esposito (NY-4), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Colin Allred (TX-32), Grace Meng (NY-06), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Nicholas Langworthy (NY-23), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Andre Carson (IN-07), Troy Carter (LA-02), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), and Marcus Molinaro (NY-19).