The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, pending legislation introduced by Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and others, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on April 28 by a 365-42 vote, according to Torres spokesperson, Ben Stanislawski. Cosponsors of the legislation were Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23).

 

The news was reconfirmed by Ronn Jordan, senior constituent services liaison, at the congressman’s office at the May 27th Bronx Community Board 7 general board meeting held at KIPP Elementary School in Kingsbridge Heights. If the bipartisan bill passes in the U.S. Senate, it will require the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to publish a final consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries.

 

The passage of the bill in the House comes at a time when fires from lithium-ion batteries have grown exponentially in New York City, according to Torres. The FDNY reports rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 1,000 fires since 2019, resulting in 523 injuries, 34 deaths, and damage to over 650 structures. In 2024, FDNY officials said there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in New York City, a dramatic increase from the 30 that occurred in 2019.

 

On the bill’s passage in the House, Torres said, “For years, it has been clear that unregulated lithium-ion batteries pose a clear and present threat to the public’s safety, and it’s long past time that we do something about it. My district specifically is acutely aware of the unmitigated disaster that urban fires pose and the urgent need for stronger safety standards. Today’s success demonstrates the broad bipartisan support for this urgently needed legislation. I urge the Senate and President Trump to swiftly pass and sign the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act into law.”

 

For this part, Langworthy, New York GOP chairman, said, “The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, sponsored by my colleague is a commonsense solution that will set clear safety standards for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices—ensuring that only safe, tested products reach American consumers. I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Rep. Torres and I urge the Senate to send it to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.”

The bill was received in the Senate on May 16, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

 

As reported, one man died as a result of a residential fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in the Allerton section of the Bronx on March 18, 2023. It followed a 5-alarm, non-fatal fire caused by a lithium-ion battery explosion in a Fordham Heights supermarket on March 5, 2023, as also reported, which injured a total of seven people, two of whom incurred serious injuries. New federal laws were introduced in the wake of these fires, as reported.

 

As also reported, a lithium-ion battery was found to be the cause of a fire at 2230 Grand Concourse in Fordham Heights on Jan. 9, 2022, the same day as the Twin Parks North West fire broke out, also in Fordham Heights, tragically killing 17 people. Meanwhile, a separate Morris Heights, 5-alarm supermarket fire which broke out at 1750 University Avenue on Feb. 9, 2023 was also caused by a lithium-ion battery.

 

Other legislation around e-bike and lithium-ion battery safety has also been introduced at the City Council level by Councilman Oswald Feliz (NY-15). As reported, Feliz previously introduced prior fire safety legislation in the wake of the tragic Twin Parks fire in January 2022. Other safey measures have also been taken by New York City Mayor Eric Adams in conjunction with the FDNY.

 

Meanwhile, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson recently raised concerns over the mental health toll such fires were taking on New York City firefighters.

A three-alarm Bronx fire that broke out in Kingsbridge Heights in December 2023, as reported, was also caused by an e-bike, FDNY officials said. As also reported, another e-bike battery fire inside Electric Transporters e-bike store in Norwood broke out on June 7, 2023. Fortunately, it resulted in no injuries.

 

These are far from the only fires caused by e-bikes in the City. A separate e-bike battery fire also claimed the lives of four people at HQ E-Bike Repair store located at 80 Madison Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood on the morning of June 20, 2023.

 

Meanwhile, Norwood News readers previously weighed in with their thoughts on the expansion of the use of lightweight e-bikes in New York City parks in September 2023.

A full list of educational materials on lithium-ion batteries can be found online. Click here, here, here for some previous coverage on this topic.

 

Click here to read more on the actions taken leading up to the bill’s passage in the House.

 

For more safety tips visit http://fdnysmart.org.