Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act

E-bike fires can have devastating consequences. They don’t have to.

Congress has the opportunity to advance legislation that would protect Americans from deadly battery fires and preserve access to the e-bikes and electric scooters consumers want. UL Standards & Engagement encourages the passage of this important legislation.

Learn more about the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, its importance, and its impact on protecting constituents.

What is the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act?

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is a bipartisan bill that would require the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices, such as e-bikes.

It was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2023 by Congressman Ritchie Torres (D-NY), and it passed in the House as H.R.1797 on May 16, 2024, with a bipartisan 374-34 vote. The bill is currently in the Senate as S. 1008 and passed unanimously out of the Senate Commerce, Transportation, and Science Committee by voice vote.

Why is the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act important?

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is an important step toward reducing the number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and e-scooters. Large metropolitan areas like New York City have been significantly impacted by this problem. In 2023 alone, the Fire Department of the City of New York responded to 268 battery fires—more than five incidents per week. It prompted the city to pass legislation requiring all e-mobility devices, batteries, and related equipment sold or leased in the city to be certified to meet safety standards published by UL Standards & Engagement. Since the legislation took effect in September of that year, the number of deaths related to e-mobility fires 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 in 2024, compared to 14 deaths and 114 injuries during the same period in 2023.

Battery fires are not only a New York City problem. They are happening everywhere. For example, a fire in Washington state in late May left a family without a home due to a charging e-bike. Another fire caused by a battery in Texas left a townhome with extensive damage costing $30,000. Solutions must be in place to mitigate these fires, wherever they occur. By mandating safety standards for e-mobility devices, H.R. 1797 and S.1008 would ensure that products sold in the U.S. are designed and constructed according to rigorous safety requirements that would reduce the risk of fire and explosion.

What would the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act do?

The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act would require the CPSC to issue a safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices, to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries. If the CPSC makes the standard mandatory, it would prevent the sale and import of any products that do not meet the standard and any existing products would be recalled. 

What other e-bike legislation has already passed?

Local governments that have enacted e-bike legislation include NYC, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Denver. In 2023, NYC enacted a law that states all e-mobility devices sold, leased, or rented in the city must comply with UL 2849, the standard for electrical systems for e-bikes; UL 2272, the standard for personal e-mobility devices; and UL 2271, the standard for lithium-ion batteries in e-mobility vehicles. San Francisco approved ordinances that emphasize clear guidelines for safe charging and storage practices, along with requiring certified batteries to minimize fire risks associated with e-bikes and e-scooters. Other areas, including Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Denver, are incorporating UL safety standards into their incentive programs. These initiatives highlight the growing recognition of the need for stronger safety requirements as e-bike use continues to rise.