WASHINGTON (BRAIN) — The House of Representatives approved the bipartisan Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act on Wednesday that would establish a federal safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in mobility devices like e-bikes and e-scooters.
H.R. 1797, which passed 378-34 and now goes to the Senate, would give the Consumer Product Safety Commission the authority to create that standard. The bill was introduced last year by New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, and endorsed by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
The bill states the standard also must include requirements for battery-related equipment, including chargers, cables, battery pack external terminals, micromobility device external terminals, and free-standing recharging stations.
A little over a year ago, Schumer and Gillibrand held a news conference pledging their support in the wake of New York City's increasing number of lithium-ion battery fires.
"We need coordinated federal leadership to mitigate the threat that unregulated and untested lithium-ion batteries pose to individual consumers and communities across America," said Matt Moore, PeopleForBikes policy counsel. "The Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act is a necessary first step towards a safer e-mobility future. We're proud supporters of the bill and look forward to working with the sponsors in moving it through the Senate, to the president's desk, and on to the CPSC to implement."