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A person holds a smartphone connected to a portable power bank, charging the device outdoors with a blurred natural background.

The Rechargeable Society

Lithium-ion batteries now power everything from personal devices to critical infrastructure, delivering enormous benefits but also introducing new risks.

Becoming a Rechargeable Society

We are in the midst of a rapid shift to a Rechargeable Society, where battery-powered technologies are embedded in nearly every aspect of modern life.

This transition is reshaping how people work, communicate, move, and power the tools and devices they rely on every day. With any major technological shift comes a new class of risks. Learn how our work and standards are helping society to safely benefit from growing innovation.

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Explore Key Trends Driving the Rechargeable Society

How We Live and Work

Rechargeable batteries are increasingly present in our homes, workplaces, and on our bodies, making everyday safety more important than ever.

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Phones, laptops, wearables, and home devices place batteries close to people and property.

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Many safety incidents stem from counterfeit, substandard, or damaged products, but consumers are unaware of lithium-ion batteries as the power source, let alone the risks.

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Awareness, safe practices, and strong safety standards are essential to fostering innovation and protecting consumers. 

60%

of Americans are unaware that
lithium-ion batteries power many
of the products they rely on

29%

of consumers report knowingly purchasing counterfeit products

69%
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of consumers say certifications increase trust in products they use

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    Counterfeit Lithium-ion Cells and Batteries

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How We Move Near and Far

Battery power is reshaping mobility at every scale, from city streets to the skies.

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E-bikes, e-scooters, electric vehicles, and shared mobility devices are growing rapidly in use in communities across the globe.

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The same batteries that power these devices
also travel with us on airplanes, and if damaged or improperly packed, they can create serious in-flight risks. In the air, even a small battery fire can be difficult to contain and escalate quickly.

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Standards, education, and, where appropriate, policy are essential to preventing fires and protecting people on land and 30,000 feet above it.

Aviation Fact Sheet
E-Mobility Fact Sheet

47%

47% of EV or hybrid owners are unaware that their vehicles contain a lithium-ion battery.

29%

29% increase in thermal runaway incidents from passenger flights was recorded in ULSE’s TRIP database from 2024 to 2025.

53%

53% of e-bike owners and 54% of e-scooter owners do not know that their device is powered by a lithium-ion battery.

42%

42% increase over last year made portable chargers the most common product causing thermal runaway incidents in aviation.

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How We Power the Future

Batteries are essential to clean energy, resilience, and emerging technologies—but they must be deployed safely at scale.

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Battery energy storage offers a renewable power source, improved grid stability, and can help meet AI-driven demand.

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Large battery systems carry higher-consequence safety and community risks and require mitigation solutions including standards.

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End-of-life and reuse of batteries introduce new safety and circularity challenges that standards can help meet.

79%

of U.S. consumers say that having a convenient drop-off option would make them more likely to recycle batteries

44%

of U.S. adults are not confident EV batteries are recycled or repurposed responsibly

36%
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of consumers admit to throwing batteries in the trash

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Achieving Progress

Protecting people in a battery-powered world requires more than technology. It requires coordination and leadership. 

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Standards establish safety foundations and enable innovation to thrive.

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Education helps consumers, workers, and communities make safer choices.

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Advocacy ensures policies reflect real-world risks and proven solutions.

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    Deaths From NYC E-Bike Fires Fell to One in 2025 – Two Years After UL Standards Written Into Law

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The Rechargeable Society Will Continue to Evolve, and Safety Must Evolve with It

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Battery technologies will change, but the need for trusted safety leadership remains.

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Proactive conformance to standards, consumer and community education, and policymaker and stakeholder advocacy reduce risk before harm occurs.

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UL Standards & Engagement is leading that effort and will continue to do so the Rechargeable Society may deliver on its full potential.

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