City Councilmembers and representatives from the FDNY came together again on Monday to figure out how to mitigate fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries found in e-bikes and scooters.  

The FDNY has reported 63 fires because of lithium-ion batteries – more battery-related fires than the FDNY reported for all of 2020 and 2019.  

The Committee of Fire and Emergency Management is working with the fire department’s top officials to figure out how to extinguish this increased risk. 

Two bills were introduced – one would establish a program that would allow people to get the batteries at a reduced cost or for free. The other would require businesses that rely on e-bikes to provide bike operators with fire-resistant containers where those batteries can be safely charged.  

“We are in a crisis mode when it comes to the batteries,” said Council Member Keith Powers, who wrote the two bills.  

Five people have died so far in New York City this year in battery-related fires.

Today’s meeting was simply a hearing, and the two bills proposed will be voted on at a later date. If it passes the committee, it will head to the full City Council for a second vote.