On July 11, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed seven bills from a slate of micromobility safety legislation passed by the New York Senate and Assembly. PeopleForBikes commends the state of New York for effectively responding to the challenges that untested, uncertified, and unsafe lithium-ion batteries for electric micromobility products pose to consumers and first responders.
The most important bill for the bicycle industry — the Batteries for Micromobility Devices, Bicycles With Electric Assist, and Limited Use Motorcycles Act (S154F/A4938D) — will establish the nation’s first statewide standards for the manufacture and sale of lithium-ion batteries for electric bicycles and other mobility devices. The bill was sponsored by Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz from New York City. A critical aspect of this legislation, which PeopleForBikes influenced through ten rounds of amendments in both the Senate and Assembly over the last 18 months, is the recognition of all battery regulations referenced under both the European (EN 15194) and American (UL 2849) standards for electric bicycles and drive systems.
With respect to acceptable testing laboratories, the new law allows manufacturers to use testing labs accredited to ISO 17025, ISO 17065, or an OSHA-approved nationally recognized testing lab (NRTL). The New York City Council and Department of Consumer and Worker Protection previously adopted the same approach to laboratory accreditation at the suggestion of PeopleForBikes. The statewide testing requirements under S154F/A4938D will go into effect in 90 days (October 9, 2024).
The new law was specifically crafted to allow reputable manufacturers of safe, high-quality electric bicycles to continue selling their products in New York while also preventing the sale of uncertified, low-quality batteries used in some e-mobility devices that have been linked to a recent and tragic increase in fires in New York City and elsewhere. Importantly, the inclusion of the EN 15194 battery standard will also ensure that a broad array of electric bicycles and replacement batteries for existing electric bicycles will continue to be available.
“Our PeopleForBikes staff team spent thousands of legislative, legal, and lobby hours in the last few years working with key leaders and stakeholders in New York. We had a heavy hand in crafting these positive outcomes and are pleased to see this package of bills become law,” said Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes’ president and CEO. “This plainly demonstrates the power of a trade association like PeopleForBikes. With industry experts working alongside our talented team to deliver positive results, we are stronger together.”
To date, millions of safe electric bicycles have been manufactured and sold globally with drive systems and batteries tested to EN 15194. More recently, PeopleForBikes member manufacturers began certifying their products to the newer UL 2849 standard. Because PeopleForBikes members distribute their drive systems, batteries, and electric bicycles in multiple markets, including Europe, many of the electric bicycles already in use in the U.S. have drive systems and batteries tested and certified to the EN 15194 standard, which is by far the prevailing global safety standard for these products.
“PeopleForBikes is not aware of any report of a lithium-ion battery fire related to an electric bicycle whose battery was certified for compliance with battery standards referenced in EN 15194,” said Matt Moore, PeopleForBikes’ policy counsel. “These are simply not the unsafe and untested products implicated in recent battery fires.”
PeopleForBikes will continue to advocate for the inclusion of both the European and American e-bike battery standards whenever government regulators are considering battery safety legislation as both of these testing standards are proven and powerful tools for preventing lithium-ion battery fires. PeopleForBikes looks forward to future work with other state and local legislators, as well as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in advancing reasonable, consistent, and harmonized regulatory standards for lithium-ion batteries used in electric bicycles and other mobility products.
About PeopleForBikes
PeopleForBikes is the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association and a national advocacy nonprofit representing more than 325 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individuals. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike; advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and reduce barriers to access and welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike. Our goal: Become the best place to ride a bike in the world. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
