New York’s Senator Applauds Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Vote To Set Safety Standards On Lithium-Ion Batteries

SENATOR GILLIBRAND STATEMENT ON UNITED STATES CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION VOTE TO SET SAFETY STANDARDS ON LITHIUM – ION BATTERIES

Editor’s note: Recently Senator Gillibrand had called on the CPSC to set standards for lithium-ion batteries, along with introducing legislation to require such regulations, especially in light of the house fires and other blazes they were found responsible for.  With regulations and standards in place, it can be hoped that there won’t be any more surprise fires that start spontaneously, for no other reason than poor manufacturing procedures.  This is especially true of electric bikes and scooters, but cell charging blocks have also been implicated. 

New York, N.Y. – United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) vote in favor of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) – an official document explaining an agency’s plan to address a particular problem – on lithium-ion batteries in micromobility devices. The NPRM will help finalize federal regulations for the dangerous products.

“Just last year, lithium-ion batteries sparked hundreds of fires across New York City, killing and injuring innocent New Yorkers,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I have long fought for this commonsense change, and I applaud the CPSC for making critical progress in our fight to crackdown on unregulated lithium-ion batteries by finalizing federal regulations that will be critical to saving lives and making our city, state, and nation safer.”

Last Congress, Senator Gillibrand, Senator Schumer and Congressman Torres authored the bipartisan Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act, legislation that would establish the first federal safety standards for lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micromobility devices. The House of Representatives passed this critical legislation on April 28, 2025.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in e-bikes, electric scooters, and other micromobility devices, are often manufactured abroad without being subject to acceptable safety standards. As a result, they commonly cause fires that lead to property damage or loss of life. In New York City alone, the New York City Fire Department 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, there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in NYC, a dramatic increase from the 30 that occurred in 2019.

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Last week, Gillibrand, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Representative Ritchie Torres called on the CPSC to vote in favor of the NPRM on lithium-ion batteries as soon as possible in order to protect the lives of Americans who rely on e-bikes and e-scooters.

Banner Image: Charging an electric vehicle. Image Credit –  Possessed Photography