Shops in New York state that peddle e-bikes would be required to implement enhanced fire safety precautions under a newly introduced bill aimed at curbing New York City’s e-bike fire crisis.
The legislation, which would mandate automatic fire monitoring and Class B extinguishers in e-bike shops, is part of a package of e-bike safety bills proposed by state Sen. Iwen Chu, a Brooklyn Democrat. Another bill would set new standards for e-bike batteries.
“There is an urgency here,” Chu said in an interview. “We’re working to save lives.” Since New York City lifted its e-bike ban in 2018, the devices have proliferated across the city, posing a growing safety challenge. E-bikes are powered by flammable lithium-ion batteries that can spark fast-moving infernos.