Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday signed a package of bills aimed at reducing the risk of e-bike battery fires.

The legislation focuses on e-bike, e-scooter and moped safety standards, as well as the sale, storage and charging of lithium-ion batteries.

The number of e-bikes and e-scooters on city streets has surged since the City Council legalized them in 2020, and with that surge in use has come a surge in fire danger.

Last year alone, the FDNY said 150 people in the city were injured and 18 were killed in fires involving lithium-ion batteries, which power e-bikes and e-scooters.

"Today, we're taking the first steps to extinguish the scourge of lithium-ion battery fires here in New York City," Hochul said at a news conference in Manhattan. “Today is a win for consumer safety, it’s a win for public safety, and no one should ever, ever, worry that an e-bike they use to make a living is also putting themselves, their families and their neighbors in harm’s way.”

The package of legislation includes the following bills, the governor said in a news release:

• A bill banning the sale of lithium-ion batteries that aren’t manufactured in accordance with safety standards and specifications
• A bill directing three state agencies to work together to “develop and maintain safety resources, information and protocols” related to lithium-ion battery fire prevention
• A bill requiring the State Fire Administrator to provide first responders with training materials explaining how to respond to lithium-ion battery fires
• A bill requiring retailers who sell e-bikes or lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes to provide customers with an operating manual  
• A bill requiring officers investigating an e-bike or e-scooter accident that was fatal or led to injuries to file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles
• A bill requiring dealers to register mopeds “at the point of sale” if they are being used in New York state
• A bill requiring e-bikes and mopeds to have a red tag attached their charging cords saying they must be unplugged when they aren’t in use
• A bill requiring retailers to attach a notice to e-bikes saying their drivers must yield to pedestrians and follow traffic laws

The FDNY said it investigated 107 fires involving lithium-ion batteries between Jan. 1 and June 24 of this year. Forty-six people were injured and one person was killed, the department said.

In 2022, six people were killed and 147 were injured in lithium-ion battery fires, the FDNY said. Four people were killed and 79 were injured in 2021, according to the department.

At Thursday’s news conference, Hochul noted that lithium-ion batteries “don’t catch on fire like kindlings — they explode like a grenade. They spew toxic gas and chemicals everywhere.”

“No one should fear that the e-bike charging down the hall could go off like a bomb at any moment,” she said. “And no firefighter should ever risk their lives because some cheap manufacturer cutting the corners had to make an extra buck.”

“These new laws will hold reckless battery makers accountable, build awareness on how to handle e-bikes, and also protect our first responders,” she added. “And the bottom line is, we're going to start saving lives.”