New York Cracking Down on Lithium Batteries in E-bikes Amid Rise in Deadly Fires

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on July 11 signed a series of bills aimed at addressing the increasing danger posed by lithium-ion batteries. The slate of bills are primarily designed to improve safety around electric bikes (e-bikes) with action such as consumer education requirements and critical training for first responders. “Today, we’re taking the first steps to extinguish the scourge of lithium-ion battery fires here in New York City,” she said at an event in New York City marking the signing of the legislation. Ms. Hochul touched upon a recent tragedy in February when an apartment building fire in Harlem sparked by a charging e-bike resulted in the death of a 27-year-old man....