E-Bike Battery Crackdown Eyed In NYC After Devastating Fires

NEW YORK CITY — A crackdown could be coming for e-bike batteries in New York City after a growing number of fires — including a massive Midtown blaze — have been sparked by the lithium-ion cells.

Bill before the City Council aim to ban the sale of secondhand lithium-ion batteries and encourage safe charging infrastructure.

Council Member Gale Brewer said during a rally Monday that 166 fires this year have been tied to lithium-ion batteries. She and her colleagues later held a safety hearing that detailed the dangers and fire hazards of refurbished or uncertified batteries.

“Why is that they’re actually being sold in the first place? Batteries that are unsafe?” Brewer said.

Lithium-ion batteries power the e-bikes that have exploded in popularity with delivery workers across the city.

But, as testimony during the City Council hearing showed, they’ve also been behind quite-literally explosive fires. One such recent blaze in Midtown that left at least 38 people injured was caused by an e-bike battery, authorities said.

Not all e-bike batteries are unsafe, but it can be costly to buy one that’s not inherently dangerous, experts said.

One e-bike business proprietor testified that there’s only one e-bike system with the Underwriters Laboratories certification — which she said is an effective guarantee against catastrophic problems — but the batteries alone cost $800 to $1,000.

Such prices are likely beyond the means of many delivery workers, which leads them to buy much cheaper refurbished or uncertified batteries, experts said.

Many delivery workers are also concerned a ban on secondhand batteries could effectively criminalize their job, especially since it’s often difficult to tell a legit battery from one that isn’t, said Hildalyn Colón-Hernández, the director of policy and strategic partnerships for Los Deliveristas Unidos.

“We cannot go back to the days when workers were getting arrested,” Colón-Hernández testified.

Brewer and other City Council members acknowledged delivery workers’ concerns, and discussed whether companies such as DoorDash could cover the costs.