On behalf of Consumer Reports (CR), the independent, non-profit, nonpartisan member organization, we write in advance of the Subcommittee’s September 27, 2023, hearing to state for the record our endorsement of H.R. 1797, the Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act. We strongly support this bipartisan legislation, which would ensure the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can set strong safety standards for micromobility devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, and hoverboards, in a timely manner.
Micromobility products can be a useful, cost-effective, and fun way to get around. They have soared in popularity in recent years, and many of them are manufactured overseas and imported to the U.S. Unfortunately, fires and explosions linked to the products have also proliferated. Since 2021, micromobility devices using high energy density batteries have been linked to hundreds of fires and over two dozen fatalities, including the deaths of multiple children.
Last year, CR published an investigation into the surge of deadly fires linked to e-bikes. While specific information on the manufacturers or brands tied to these fires is not publicly available, fire experts have said they suspect that low-quality batteries from fringe players are often to blame.