Governor Signs New Legislation to Address Lithium-Ion Battery Dangers
On Thursday, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill targeting the removal of dangerous lithium-ion batteries from streets and homes. This legislative action follows alarming FDNY data reporting 110 investigations linked to lithium-ion battery fires this year alone, resulting in 50 injuries and one death.
Addressing the battery crisis
Joined by FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and other city and state leaders, Governor Hochul enacted eight pieces of legislation into law. “These batteries don’t catch on fire like kindling. They explode like a grenade,” Hochul stated. She condemned “greedy manufacturers that put profit over safety and flood the market with cheap, malfunctioning batteries,” declaring, “Here in New York, that ends today.”
New law targets the sale of hazardous batteries
The new legislation prohibits the sale of lithium-ion batteries that fail to meet manufacturing standards. It mandates that retailers provide manuals for batteries and requires training materials for first responders handling incidents involving these batteries.
Dave Morkal, a retired FDNY battalion chief, has been educating fire departments nationwide on the dangers of these batteries. “It does feel good to have these conversations, but I am concerned that some of this could go bad for firefighters in the future,” Morkal noted.
Concerns over existing batteries
Despite the new legislation, Morkal expressed concerns about the already purchased batteries. “Even with enforcement and legislation, there’s just too big a market for them, I think. They’ll still be there,” he said.
These fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish and cause significant damage. Just two weeks ago, a home in Midwood, Brooklyn was devastated when a charging lithium-ion battery ignited. Jackie Bray, commissioner of the New York State Department of Homeland Security, highlighted the challenge, stating, “We have to go to the point of sale or the point of re-sale. It is a real challenge when you’re talking about each individual bike.”