Relates to establishing a lithium-ion battery safety program

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic4

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become increasingly popular over recent years thanks to their powerful energy outputs and manageable sizes. There are hardly any New Yorkers remaining who wouldn't be using a LIB in their day-to-day activities. For workers who use e-bikes to make their living, LIBs have become a staple of their lives. However, despite their efficiency, we must work to limit the dangers associated with LIBs. Specifically, as a result of faults in the structure of LIBs and their chargers, we've begun seeing a trend of the batteries over- heating and exploding into flames. Since January 2021 to early December 2022, the city's fire department attributed 202 fires, 142 injuries, and six deaths to such batteries, including one in August 2022 that report- edly killed a 5-year-old. To prevent any more senseless harm, this bill would create a sustainable lithium-ion battery exchange program. This program will create a new future of safe batteries that are more econom- ically and widely available to all, but especially those who depend on them for their livelihood. Delivery workers, most of whom are low-income immigrants, rely on their e-bikes to make a living. Workers take home just $7.09 per hour on average, excluding tips, so cheaper, second-hand batteries are often more attractive to them. Over 65,000 of New York's food delivery workers rely on e-bikes, most of which run on cheaper lithium-ion batteries that have been linked to fires and injuries. The problem is that certified-safety batteries tend to be more expensive than uncertified ones, and many find it difficult to afford a safer battery, which can cost $1,000 or more. But earning a living and safety shouldn't have to be mutually exclusive for delivery employees.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.