WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer as well as Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-23, are part of a bipartisan group of lawmakers reintroducing the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act.

The bill would 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.

“Far too many innocent lives have been lost in New York City and across the country to fires caused by faulty and improperly manufactured lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micromobility devices,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is a commonsense solution that brings us one step closer to stopping preventable fires, and I encourage my congressional colleagues to pass this bipartisan bill and create the first-ever mandatory consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility devices.”

The bill is being reintroduced at a time when fires from lithium-ion batteries have become widespread in New York City. The New York City Fire Department reports rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have caused more than 850 fires since 2021, resulting in more than 450 injuries, 34 deaths & damage to hundreds of structures.

“We are in a time where technology is outpacing federal safety action in many ways, moving faster than the measures we need to keep the public safe, and there might be no better example of this dilemma than with the cheap, China-made lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters and other devices,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “The fires and injuries caused by these batteries have resulted in tremendous loss across New York and federal action is needed to protect consumers and our brave firefighters who are on the front lines of this new paradigm in fire prevention spurred by these unpredictable, and often times, very dangerous batteries–and that’s why we are reintroducing the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act to create a consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.”

In 2024, there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in New York City, a dramatic increase from the 44 that occurred in 2020.

“The safety of American consumers must always come first. Rechargeable lithium batteries power so many aspects of our daily lives, but without proper standards, they pose serious risks of fires and explosions,” said Langworthy. “This legislation sets clear safety guidelines to protect families, first responders, and businesses from preventable hazards. I am proud to support this commonsense measure to ensure that these products meet rigorous safety standards before they reach the market.”