New York Takes the Lead in Lithium-ion Battery Safety for eBikes and eScooters
Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan addresses certification, infrastructure education and enforcement
By Stephen Coulter, Co-Founder of CREDZ and Zipidi
Over the past year, there have been growing concerns about the safety of eBikes and eScooters due to lithium-ion battery fires. This issue has been highlighted by the rapid growth of micromobility during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. While some cities have considered banning these vehicles altogether, New York City has taken a more proactive approach to address the issue. Mayor Adams and his team have announced a range of initiatives to promote the safe and efficient use of emicromobility as an alternative to cars. This article will discuss the Mayor’s “Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan” and the role CREDZ can play in ensuring lithium-ion battery safety.
We want to promote the growth of safe eMicromobility in NYC as a climate-friendly alternative to cars…(we are) piloting outdoor and emicromobility storage and charging areas…ebikes and escooters are here — you might as well get used to them; they are now part of our movement…now we must make sure they are incorporated into our everyday lives in a safe and efficient manner. Mayor Adams of NYC, 20 March 2023
The Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan:
The Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan includes several key initiatives to promote lithium-ion battery safety for eBikes and eScooters in New York City:
- UL Certification: The base certification for battery safety.
- Outdoor Electric Micromobility Storage and Charging Solutions: Providing 173 charging stations at 53 locations across NYC housing authority properties.
- Legalising eMicromobility Use on Bike Lanes and Greenways: Promoting the use of emicromobility in safe areas.
- Advocating for NY State to Subsidize the Purchase of Safe, Legal eBikes: Encouraging the purchase of quality eBikes with certified batteries.
- Creating Charging Hubs for Delivery Workers: Providing safe and convenient charging options for delivery workers.
- Fire Education Programs: Educating the public to prevent the sale of illegal mopeds and other illegal devices.
- Prohibiting the Sale and Assembly of Second-Use Lithium-Ion Batteries: Preventing the use of potentially unsafe batteries.
Importance of Certification:
Certification is crucial to ensuring the safety of lithium-ion batteries for eBikes and eScooters. The Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan requires a minimum of UL and/or CE standards certification for battery cells. It is important to buy devices with certified batteries from reputable manufacturers.
Batteries should also have a built-in Battery Management System (BMS) to mitigate fire risks.
Sensible Charging Practices:
In addition to certification, sensible charging practices are essential to preventing lithium-ion battery fires. Users should avoid overcharging and charge their batteries away from inflammable objects, preferably outside or in a garage. Batteries should not be charged overnight while owners are sleeping. It is also important not to mix chargers from different devices.
CREDZ’s Role in Ensuring Battery Safety:
CREDZ is committed to ensuring the safety of lithium-ion batteries for eBikes and eScooters. CREDZ uses cutting-edge, patented imaging technology and computer vision to authenticate products, services, and certifications with unparalleled accuracy. CREDZ has partnered with Laava, whose Smart Fingerprint™ technology has already been successfully deployed on over five million products worldwide. With CREDZ’s help, manufacturers and retailers can connect with end-users to provide important updates and verify that batteries meet certification and safety standards.
To see an example of how CREDZ can support lithium-ion battery manufacturers, see the image below.
Conclusion:
New York City’s Charge Safe Ride Safe Action Plan is a sensible and strategic approach to addressing the safety concerns of lithium-ion batteries for eBikes and eScooters. Certification, sensible charging practices, and education are essential to ensuring the safe and efficient use of eMicromobility. CREDZ plays an important role in authenticating that batteries meet certification and safety standards. With these measures in place, eBikes and eScooters can continue to be safe and sustainable alternatives to cars in New York City and beyond.
To see a demonstration of CREDZ for your batteries, bikes or scooters, contact the author at stephen@credzid.com
Further Information
The full announcement and analysis are in the following two article links
