Governor Kathy Hochul Signs Statewide Fire Safety Standards for E-Bike Batteries and Charging Hubs

NEW YORK — Governor Kathy Hochul signed a comprehensive statewide lithium-ion battery fire safety legislative package on Monday, establishing strict manufacturing standards, banning the retail sale of uncertified micromobility batteries, and allocating $25 million in state matching funds to install fireproof outdoor commercial charging stations across New York City and upstate urban centers.

The statutory package, passed following hundreds of severe residential fires caused by uncertified or refurbished lithium-ion battery packs, amends the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code to regulate indoor charging facilities in residential apartment buildings.

Banning Unregulated Battery Imports and Refurbished Packs Under the new law, all electric bicycles, e-scooters, and replacement lithium-ion batteries sold, leased, or rented in New York must be certified by an accredited testing laboratory under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standards 2849 and 2272.

"Micromobility devices are essential transportation for tens of thousands of delivery workers and commuters, but uncertified, faulty batteries have turned into ticking time bombs in residential hallways," Governor Hochul said during a bill signing at the FDNY Training Academy on Randall's Island. "This legislation bans dangerous, counterfeit batteries from our store shelves, establishes state-of-the-art fireproof charging infrastructure, and equips our brave firefighters with the tools to prevent tragic thermal runaway fires."

Delivery Worker Trade-In and Safe Charging Hubs The legislation establishes a state-supervised battery swap and trade-in initiative, enabling delivery couriers to exchange hazardous, uncertified battery packs for certified UL-compliant hardware at a subsidized discount.

Key provisions also require commercial delivery platforms operating in New York to provide delivery workers with access to designated outdoor, fire-suppressed battery charging plazas equipped with automated thermal cutoff sensors and specialized class-D fire extinguishers.

Fire service officials, building owners, and delivery worker unions commended the compromise legislation, emphasizing that rigorous product certification eliminates fire hazards while protecting the livelihoods of gig economy couriers.