Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Batteries Have Caused 1,000+ Fires And 34 Deaths Since 2019 In New York City Alone
Rulemaking Would Protect Innocent Americans From The Dangers Of Cheap And Defective Imported Lithium-Ion Batteries
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Representative Ritchie Torres are pushing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to move forward and finalize federal regulations for lithium-ion batteries by voting in favor of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on Wednesday, April 30. CPSC’s decision to move forward on a vote comes after the members sent a letter to CPSC earlier this week advocating for this move.
Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in e-bikes, electric scooters, and other micromobility devices, are often manufactured abroad without being subject to acceptable safety standards. As a result, they commonly cause fires that lead to property damage or loss of life. Following an indefinite postponement of the meeting to advance federal regulations, the lawmakers called on the CPSC to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) – an official document explaining an agency’s plan to address a particular problem – on lithium-ion batteries as soon as possible in order to protect the lives of Americans who rely on e-bikes and e-scooters. CPSC scheduled a vote on the NPRM yesterday.
The members noted in the letter, “Last year, we led the effort in Congress to reach a bipartisan compromise that would have authorized the Commission to enact safety standards based upon generally accepted voluntary standards for the use of lithium-ion batteries in micromobility products. We will continue fighting to pass the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, but as the legislation works its way through Congress, the Commission must do all it can to save lives and protect Americans from the poorly-made batteries from China that have caused harm.”
The full text of the letter is available here and below.
Dear Acting Chairman Feldman:
We write to urge the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “Commission”) to swiftly issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (“NPRM”) moving the proposed rule to establish a new safety standard for lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility products and electrical systems of micromobility products containing such batteries, which has received bipartisan support and would save countless lives.
As you know, last year, we led the effort in Congress to reach a bipartisan compromise that would have authorized the Commission to enact safety standards based upon generally accepted voluntary standards for the use of lithium-ion batteries in micromobility products. We will continue fighting to pass the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act but as the legislation works its way through Congress, the Commission must do all it can to save lives and protect Americans from the poorly-made batteries from China that have caused harm.
To that end, we were pleased to see CPSC formulate proposed safety standards that would address the risk of death and injury associated with lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility product electrical systems. A decisional meeting to issue a NPRM was scheduled for January 29, 2025, but has been indefinitely postponed. Given the public safety benefits that would arise from issuance and finalization of the NPRM, we strongly urge the Commission to move forward with advancing it as soon as possible. Any delay would not only impact consumers across the country, it would also put the safety and lives of our country’s finest heroes, our law enforcement and first responders, in danger.
Further, many of these cheap and defective lithium-ion batteries are manufactured in China without being subject to effective safety standards, ultimately causing fires or other safety hazards. In New York City alone, the New York City Fire Department reports rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 1,000 fires since 2019, resulting in 523 injuries, 34 deaths & damage to over 650 hundreds of structures. In 2024, there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in NYC, a dramatic increase from the 30 that occurred in 2019. While the Administration and the Commission consider policy options to address economic relations with China, it is critical that the Commission advance this rulemaking as a means of protecting innocent Americans from the dangers of cheap and defective imported lithium-ion batteries.
As the Commission continues its work, we stand ready to work together to address this serious public safety concern. Thank you for your prompt attention to this important issue.
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