Background

In 2020, NYC legalized electric bicycles and scooters. E-bikes have been used in NYC even earlier. Since 2020, the popularity of these light vehicles in NYC has increased significantly due to legalization and the Covid-19 epidemic. Nationwide, e-bike sales surpassed electric and hybrid car sales in both 2021 and 2022. However, these new modes of transportation also pose serious fire risks and challenges. Fires caused by batteries in light vehicles are a growing problem in NYC.

The number rose from 44 in 2020 to 104 in 2021 and 220 in 2022. In the first two months of 2023, there were 30 such fires. Fires were particularly damaging because they are difficult to extinguish.  Lithium-ion batteries are one of the worst sources of fire. Like cars and other technologies, light vehicles can be dangerous if they don’t meet safety standards or are used incorrectly.

NYC Council Legislation

Based on the above problems, on March 2, 2023, NYC Council voted to strengthen the fire safety control of electric bicycles and scooters and other products as well as lithium batteries. Proposal 663-A calls for:

Electric bicycles and scooters and other equipment as well as internal lithium batteries, cannot be sold or rented if they do not meet specific safety certification.

To be sold legally, the devices and batteries above must be certified to the relevant UL safety standards.

The logo or name of the test laboratory should be displayed on the product packaging, documentation or product itself.

The law will take effect on August 29, 2023. Relevant standards related to the above products are:

• UL 2849 for E-bikes
• UL 2272 for E-scooters
•  UL 2271 for LEV traction battery

NYC Micromobility Project

除该项立法以外，纽约市长还发布了未来纽约市将实施的一系列针对轻型车安全的计划。比如：

In addition to this legislation, the mayor also announced a series of plans for light vehicle safety that the city will implement in the future. For example:

• Prohibition of use of batteries removed from waste storage batteries to assemble or repair lithium-ion batteries.
• Prohibition of sale and use of lithium-ion batteries removed from old equipment.
• Electric micromobile devices sold in NYC and the batteries they use must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory.
• Promote to the CPSC.
• The FDNY will crack down on sites of serious fire code violations of lithium-ion battery charging and storage, mainly targeting businesses.
• The NYPD will punish sellers of unregistered illegal mopeds and other illegal electric micromobile devices.

Tips

The law will take effect on August 29th this year. E-bikes, e-scooters, and other products as well as their internal batteries must meet UL standards and obtain certificates from authorized organizations. The logos of authorized organizations must be affixed to the products and packages. To help our clients meet regulatory requirements, MCM will assist to obtain a certified logo for TUV RH to facilitate sales in the United States.