Brooklyn Senator Introduces Bills For E-Transportation Battery Safety

During a press conference this week, New York State Senator Iwen Chu (SD-17, Brooklyn) set in motion several bills aimed at improving safety around electric transportation and the lithium-ion batteries that they use. 

The introduced legislation is a direct response to a series of fatal fires that have occurred as a result of unregulated lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters throughout Brooklyn and the state of New York as a whole.

According to a release from the New York State Senate, 17 of the 93 fire-related deaths in New York City this past year were caused by explosions from these types of batteries, in addition to unsafe storage options and lack of fire suppressants exacerbating the issues.

The proposed legislation from Senator Chu — consisting of four bills in total — looks to provide guidelines and stricter regulations for e-transportation and their power sources.

Among the suggested bills include one that would require batteries for e-bikes and e-scooters to be tested and approved by a safety organization; as well as another one that would require places that sell, repair, or store micro mobility devices to have fire protection and suppression measures in place.

Other legislation championed by Senator Chu during the press conference included a bill that would make it mandatory for electric bicycles and scooters to have a red tag attached to their charging cables that remind users to unplug during emergencies; along with a bill that requires e-transportation manufacturers to attach traffic safety notices to their products. 

The dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries have gone unchecked long enough and have led to too many fires across New York City and in the communities I represent. I have introduced common sense legislation that would not only make e-bikes safer but would require businesses selling and repairing them to have fire suppressants on site, as well as safe storage protocols in place,” said Senator Chu. 

“E-bikes can continue serving as helpful tools for our community without posing serious safety risk, and I will proudly continue to lead on this issue so our riders and residents are kept out of harm's way."