The lithium batteries of electric bicycles and scooters are in the crosshairs

This after a faulty scooter battery caused a fire within the Bronx borough of New York. The fire department of that state began to urge users to review these types of components, in addition to the fact that the representative of this district, Ritchie Torres, presented new federal legislation in an effort to prevent fires caused by batteries of lithium ions.

The FDNY is encouraging New Yorkers w/ lithium-ion powered mobility devices to follow practices to prevent fires and keep you safe. Do not leave batteries charging unattended or overnight when you’re sleeping. Do not use power or extension cords to charge. https://t.co/FJM6TLrmcS pic.twitter.com/ZWABoFMMMW

— FDNY (@FDNY) March 13, 2023

The fire was sparked by a charging scooter battery that suddenly burst into flames, surveillance footage released by the New York Fire Department (FDNY) shows, and is the latest in a series of battery-related fires. lithium ion.

“In all of these lithium ion fires, it’s not a slow burn, there’s not a small amount of fire, it literally explodes,” FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said Sunday. “It’s a tremendous volume of fire as soon as it happens, and it’s very difficult to extinguish, so it’s particularly dangerous.”

As of February of this year, lithium-ion batteries have already caused 30 fires in New York City, killing two people and injuring 40. According to the fire department, that’s more than the total number of battery-related fires seen. in 2019.

In 2022, the FDNY attributed 216 fires to faulty batteries, prompting calls for better regulation and safety standards.

The initiative that is being presented, the Lithium Ion Battery Consumer Standard Setting Act seeks the US Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish a consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in personal mobility devices such as scooters and electric bicycles.

“This problem is not isolated to just New York. We must work to create and implement national safety standards for lithium-ion batteries to protect people and places from unreasonable risk, serious injury or damage, and/or death,” Torres said at a press conference with local media.