NYC Bill Would Require Safety Packs for Fire-prone Lithium Batteries

Coming amid a spate of fires caused by lithium batteries exploding, a bill proposed last week Thursday in the New York City Council would require delivery app companies to provide their drivers with fire-resistant battery packs. 

The bill, proposed by by Councilman Keith Powers, a Manhattan Democrat, would also create a buyback program for used power cells.

The legislation comes after a year of a major uptick in fires sparked by secondhand lithium-ion batteries from e-bikes.