What are lithium

Lithium-ion batteries have been in the headlines recently after causing many fires in the city.

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about the common rechargeable power sources.

A lithium-ion battery is “an advanced battery technology that uses lithium ions as a key component of its electrochemistry,” according to the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington. They are in many electric bikes and electric scooters. They are also in common items like laptops, tablets and phones.

The batteries have a tendency to overheat and can spontaneously combust when charging. The Clean Energy Institute says the batteries can also lose capacity and fail “after a number of years.”

According to New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, fires caused by lithium-ion batteries are “incredibly dangerous for citizens.”

“When they catch fire, they actually explode. So it is a very dangerous situation,” Kavanagh told NY1 in February.

There are more than 65,000 app delivery workers in New York City who use e-bikes and e-scooters for their deliveries, according to the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center.

Some city residents also use e-bikes and e-scooters to commute to work and for recreation.

Fires involving lithium-ion batteries are on the rise in the city.

Lithium-ion batteries sparked 60 fires across the five boroughs between Jan. 1 and May 3 of 2022, according to the FDNY. City data shows it represents a 233% increase from the same period in 2021, which saw 18 fires between Jan. 1 and May 3.

The total number of fires involving lithium-ion batteries — plus deaths that followed as a result — from 2019 through this year is listed below. The data is courtesy of the FDNY.

The New York City Public Housing Authority was contemplating adding a rule in 2022 that would have banned e-bikes inside its 177,000 apartments across the city.

However, the rule was not approved after backlash from delivery workers and their advocates who claimed it would force them to quit their jobs.

"A lot of these fires that have occurred, for the most part, have been in private residences, and they have often, in some cases, been in a building where these were already banned. So we really feel the way towards making the city safer is to make sure that the regulation is there and that the education is there," Kavanagh said.

In March, Mayor Eric Adams signed off on a package of legislation that attempts to reduce the risk of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries. The laws will take effect in September.

One of the five bills will ban city businesses from selling, leasing and renting out new devices that do not meet industry safety standards. A second bill will ban manufacturers and businesses from assembling and selling batteries that contain cells from used devices, which are much more likely to malfunction. Other bills will require the FDNY to file reports compiling e-bike and e-scooter fire data and fire prevention recommendations, and also focus on public safety outreach.

There have been many City Council hearings in 2023 centered around lithium-ion battery fires, as lawmakers try to limit the amount of blazes that occur across the five boroughs.

"We are in a crisis mode right now when it comes to the batteries," City Councilman Keith Powers said at a Committee on Fire and Emergency Management hearing in April.

Yes. City firefighters are trained for fires involving lithium-ion batteries, according to Kavanagh.

“This is a part of their training. Now it is part of all of their materials to make sure that when they are responding to these fires, and encountering these batteries, that they are as safe as possible. So we do that every day,” Kavanagh said.

There are also products on the open market that could help people put out fires before firefighters even arrive. A lithium-battery incident kit, for example, has various extinguishing tools and safety gear, like a fire suppression pillow, fire blanket and high-heat gloves.

The FDNY advises against charging a lithium-ion battery under a pillow, on a bed, near a door or on a couch. They also suggest using the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device. When charging, batteries should never be left unattended.

Batteries should be kept at room temperature and away from direct sunlight, according to the FDNY. They should not be near anything flammable.

Finally, if a battery overheats, emits an odor, changes shape or color, leaks, makes noises, the FDNY instructs that one should call 911.

It is illegal to put lithium-ion batteries in the trash or recycling, according to the city.

The batteries can be taken to a Special Waste Disposal site or a store that sells rechargeable batteries or products containing them, the city said. Laws require all state stores selling rechargeable batteries or products containing them to accept rechargeable batteries for recycling.

“They are very toxic and so, for the sake of the first responders and those disposing of them, we have to make sure they are disposed of properly,” Kavanagh said.

The FDNY has an informational flyer with safety tips for lithium-ion batteries. It can be downloaded by clicking here.