Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act Reintroduced into the House and Senate

Today, Congressman Ritchie Torres (NY-15), alongside Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) reintroduced the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act into the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Chuck Schumer (NY), Marsha Blackburn (TN), and Deb Fischer (NE) reintroduced the Senate version of the bill.

The bipartisan 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. 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 (FDNY) 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. In 2024, there were 279 e-bike and e-mobility device battery fires in NYC, a dramatic increase from the 44 that occurred in 2020.

On the bill’s re-introduction, Rep. 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. My colleagues and I fought throughout the last Congress to advance this legislation, and we will continue pushing it toward the finish line in the 119th — no matter the national political scene.”

Sen. Gillibrand said:

“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. 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.”

Sen. Schumer said:

“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. 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.”

Sen. Fischer said:

“Battery fires in e-bikes have caused far too many devastating injuries and deaths. We need effective, sensible safety standards for the batteries in motorized devices like e-bikes and e-scooters. Our bipartisan bill will protect people across America from these preventable tragedies.”

Rep. Clarke said:

“Since 2021, we’ve seen far too many avoidable deaths and injuries due to unregulated, unsafe lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes, e-scooters, and other mobility devices New Yorkers use to travel throughout the city delivering goods and services. I fully support this legislation to improve public safety and ensure safety guidelines and standards to prevent fire risks – protecting our constituents and businesses from injury and loss of life.”

Rep. Garbarino said:

“Unregulated lithium-ion batteries are one of the leading causes of fatal fires in New York, posing a serious threat to both the public and the firefighters who respond to these emergencies. As the use of lithium-ion batteries in devices like e-scooters and e-bikes continues to grow, so do the risks. This legislation is a critical step toward preventing these fires and improving public safety.”

Rep. Langworthy said:

“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. 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.”