Today, Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas (D-34), along with her colleagues celebrate the passage of a milestone package of legislation affecting NYers from Harlem to Hollis.
The legislation has approved in the Assembly that protects New Yorkers from the dangers of using lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes and other micromobility devices. These devices have been prone to explosion and caused fires that have occurred in Queens, including in Astoria. The legislative package enacts life-saving safety measures to prevent future tragedies.
“As a growing number of New Yorkers participate in the gig economy and search for greener, more efficient ways to move around the city, we have to consider the dangers current lithium-ion batteries present,” said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas. “Since the pandemic, we’ve seen a surge in fires caused by these batteries, putting thousands of people at risk. In April of 2023, a seven-year old boy and a 19-year-old girl tragically died in a fire that erupted in Astoria due to an explosion of a lithium-ion battery. This is a matter of safety. We have to hold manufacturers responsible, train our first responders, and put the safety of New Yorkers first. Today I am proud to have voted to pass these five important bills that will change the course of e-bike safety not only for New York, but also for the country.”
The New York Fire Department issued a statement earlier this year, declaring that lithium-ion batteries are the leading cause of fires and fire-related deaths in New York City. But the problem isn’t unique. The passage of these five bills will set a precedent for the rest of the country, which is also experiencing an uptick in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries.
In 2023, 17 people were killed, and dozens injured due to fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. In 2022, 200 fires were caused by lithium batteries. And just weeks ago, the journalism community mourned the death of Fazil Khan, a 27-year-old Indian national and data journalist. He was killed in an apartment fire caused by a lithium-ion battery. This has to stop.
At the foundation, safety begins with manufacturers. This package of bills prohibits the manufacturing and distribution, sale or offering for sale, lithium-ion batteries intended for use in an e-bike or other micro-mobility device, unless it is certified through a rigorous laboratory process (A04938C). Manufacturers are now required to add red tags with consumer safety information to be attached to charging micromobility charging cords (A08102A).
It’s important that our government takes responsibility in ensuring first responders are well equipped with the latest education related to lithium-ion batteries (A09337). State agencies will work to coordinate efforts to produce safety materials and protocol for micromobility devices powered by lithium-ion batteries (A09338).
Many New Yorkers have invested in lithium-ion battery powered micromobility products. But we want to make it easier for them to upgrade their batteries. A06811C supports the NYSERDA in establishing a program to provide rebates or new lithium-ion batteries for powered mobility devices at reduced cost or no cost.
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