Three New York lawmakers are urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to finish a proposed national safety rule for lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters, citing deadly fires linked to the devices.
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer and Rep. Ritchie Torres made the request in an Oct. 16 letter to the agency. Their letter urged rapid processing of public comments and completion of the rulemaking. The standard has been proposed, not finalized.
The CPSC approved a proposed mandatory standard for public comment in June. It is meant to address fires, explosions and other hazards involving battery-powered micromobility products. A final federal standard would apply nationally, including to products sold and used in the Finger Lakes.
The lawmakers cited a CPSC report identifying 367 lithium-ion battery-related fires involving micromobility products and 45 resulting deaths nationwide from 2017 through 2024. They also cited New York City fire officials' figures of 362 fires and five deaths involving such devices this year.
Their letter argues that voluntary standards and local restrictions have not been enough to keep unsafe products off the market. The lawmakers want the federal rule to incorporate established safety standards for light electric vehicle batteries, e-bike electrical systems and other personal micromobility devices.
Gillibrand is also the lead Senate sponsor of a separate bill to set consumer standards for lithium-ion batteries. Her office said the House passed that legislation in April 2025, but the Senate has not passed it. The bill and the CPSC's pending rule are separate routes toward a mandatory standard.
For now, the proposal remains under federal review. The lawmakers' request does not change existing product requirements by itself; a new national mandate would depend on completion of the rulemaking or enactment of legislation.
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