NYC Legislative Package on E-Bikes

In March 2023, NYC unveiled a Micromobility Action Plan focused on four key areas: Promoting and incentivizing safe battery use, increasing education and outreach to electric micromobility users, advocating for additional federal regulation of these devices, and expanding enforcement against high-risk situations.

Complementing the plan, five laws were announced regulating the safety of E-Bike batteries:

• Intro. 656 requires the FDNY to develop an informational campaign educating the public on fire risks posed by powered mobility devices.
• Intro. 663 prohibits the sale, lease, or rental of powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters, and storage batteries for these devices, that fail to meet recognized safety standards.
• Intro. 722 requires the FDNY to submit reports relating to fire risks and powered mobility devices, such as e-bikes and electric scooters.
• Intro. 749 requires the publication of materials that provide guidance on safe use and storage of powered mobility devices.
• Intro. 752 prohibits the assembly or reconditioning of lithium-ion batteries using cells removed from used storage batteries and prohibit the sale of a lithium-ion batteries that use cells removed from used storage batteries.

Together, these new laws and action plan attempt to manage the risks associated with the growing E-bike fleet while promoting the safe expansion of micromobility options.