Deaths From E-Bike Fires Declining in New York City After UL Standards Written Into Law

In 2023, New York City enacted Local Law 39, requiring any company selling, leasing, or distributing micromobility devices, such as electric bikes or electric scooters, to meet safety standards published by UL Standards & Engagement that help to reduce the risk of fire. Specifically, the law requires e-mobility devices to be tested and certified to UL 2849, the Standard for Electrical Systems for e-Bikes; UL 2272, the Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices; and UL 2271, the Standard for Batteries for Use In Light Electric Vehicle Applications.

Since the law took effect in September of that year, the rate of injuries and deaths from e-bike fires has started to slow. As of September 30, there have been three deaths and 84 injuries from these devices, compared to 14 deaths and 114 injuries during the same period in 2023.

Deaths and injuries from e-bike fires had been on the rise in NYC since 2021, when the Fire Department of the City of New York responded to 104 lithium-ion battery fires that resulted in 79 injuries and four deaths. In 2022, micromobility-related fires nearly doubled to 200, resulting in six fatalities; and in 2023 the number continued to rise with 268 battery fires that resulted in 18 fatalities and 150 additional injuries.

How Are UL Standards Making E-Bikes Safer in NYC?

The UL standards required by Local Law 39 reduce the risk of battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters by ensuring that products are designed and constructed according to rigorous safety requirements. The products feature batteries, chargers, electrical systems, and other components that have been designed and tested to withstand conditions that the device may encounter during normal use. These conditions include high ambient temperatures, water exposure, and vibration. Certain tests even take abnormal use and foreseeable misuse into account, such as mechanical shock from a drop or fall, or overcharging due to a fault in the charging control circuitry.

Substandard products that do not have these safeguards incorporated into their design present a much higher risk of fire, as their lithium-ion batteries can easily slip into thermal runaway — an uncontrollable, self-heating state — if damaged or malfunctioning.

How Is NYC Enforcing E-Bike Safety?

In addition to enforcing Local Law 39 by inspecting bike stores and repair shops and issuing violations to stores and online retailers for uncertified e-bikes and batteries, NYC has enacted a successful battery-swapping program that eliminates the need for e-bike owners to charge their own batteries. City officials have also worked to educate New Yorkers on safer e-bike practices, such as not charging or storing bikes indoors.

According to a 2024 ULSE consumer insights report, nearly half of e-bike riders (49%) who charge at home admit to blocking their home’s fire exits, a contributing factor in several cases where deaths have occurred. Further, a significant percentage of riders report unsafe behaviors such as leaving e-bikes or e-scooters plugged in even after reaching full charge (53%), charging their devices overnight (41%), or allowing them to charge unattended while away from home (26%).

“By keeping substandard e-mobility devices and their batteries off the streets and out of homes, educating e-bike owners on safe battery charging practices, and enacting programs that eliminate the need for risky behavior, New York City is bringing down the numbers of deaths and injuries from e-bike fires, and demonstrating a successful model that other cities can follow,” said ULSE Interim Executive Director and Vice President Standards Development Dr. George A. Borlase. “UL Standards & Engagement applauds NYC for taking action last year and we are pleased to see that New Yorkers are safer as a result.”

For more information, visit ebikesafety.ulse.org.