Two New York lawmakers announced legislation Sunday aimed at preventing the fires caused by lithium-ion batteries used to power e-bikes and scooters. 

The federal legislation called “Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act,” introduced by State Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, would work to take faulty lithium-ion batteries off the market and set consumer guidelines for these batteries to protect people and responders from deadly explosions.

“You plug in your e-scooter at home the cheap Chinese lithium-ion batteries short circuits or explodes and creates a fire where the results of which can be deadly,” Schumer said.

What You Need To Know

  • The “Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act” aims to set safety standards for lithium-ion batteries

  • Elected officials say lithium-ion battery fires are third leading cause of fires in New York City

  • This plan was introduced Sunday and has yet to go through the legislative process

  • Allonso Villa lost his 8-year-old daughter in a lithium-ion battery fire in September

As of last week, there were 63 fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in the city —  52 people injured and five people who died this year so far.

Officials say there are no guidelines or regulations for lithium-ion batteries currently.

“The fires and the injuries caused by the batteries are climbing across New York federal action is desperately needed,” Schumer said.

Lithium-ion batteries are used in everyday technology like cellphones.

Officials say the batteries that cause the fires are not regulated.

“Let me be clear: most lithium-ion batteries are safe. Those that are certified have a safety tool built in to prevent overheating and malfunctions like all of our iPhones have,” Gillibrand said. “We must encourage the use of more sustainable transportation alternatives, but we can’t allow for faulty or improperly manufactured batteries that keep causing these dangerous deadly fires.”

Elected officials emphasized what people should do if they have the unregulated batteries currently in their homes.

“Use the charger that comes with your device, make sure it is never charging overnight or between you and the exit,” FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said.

Stephanie Villa Torres, 8, died in September because of a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery in College Point, Queens.

“She was the best girl ever in our lives and now she is gone,” Allonso Villa said about his daughter.

Villa said he hopes this new legislation will prevent people the pain he endured.

“I lost my only daughter and I don’t want that to happen to anyone,” Villa said.

Elected officials say lithium-ion battery fires are the third leading cause for fires in the city.  

This plan was implemented Sunday but has yet to go through the legislative process.