CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS: E-BIKES, BATTERIES AND UL2849
On January 4, 2023 Human Powered Solutions will attend a virtual public meeting between the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and PeopleForBikes (PFB) that Erika Jones, PFB counsel, requested.
This virtual meeting will last 60 minutes. It will be devoted to questions that PFB will ask CPSC about the December 19, 2022, memorandum from Robert S. Kaye, Director CPSC Office of Compliance and Field Operations, to 2000 manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of micromobility devices, including e-bikes, for consumer use.
Below we have provided a chronology of events from December 8, 2022 through December 31, 2022 covering some of the most important communications we are aware of relative to the January 4 public meeting.
HPS will continue to keep our clients and TMR readers informed and up to date on events involving and affecting e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries, voluntary standards, testing and certification.
Please contact me you have any questions or require copies of any of the communications, articles or documents listed below at jay@humapoweredsolutions.com
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Chronology of events: e-bikes, lithium-ion batteries and UL2849
December 8, 2022: Consumer Reports investigative article by Stephanie Clifford: “Fire! Fire! Fire!” The Perplexing, Deadly Electric Bike Problem.
December 8, 2022: PeopleForBikes Zoom meeting of electric bicycle sub-committee.
December 9, 2022: Press release: commissioner Mary T. Boyle statement on lithium-ion battery fires and e-bikes
December 18, 2022: Letter from Heather Mason, president of the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA), to chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission re: electric bicycle (e-bike) certification to UL 2849.
December 19, 2022: Memorandum from Robert S. Kaye, director CPSC Office of Compliance and Field Operations to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of micromobility devices for consumer use.
December 20, 2022: Statement from chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric on CPSC letters regarding micromobility battery safety.
December 20, 2022: Letter from Heather Mason, president of the National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) to NBDA members to share an update regarding e-bicycles, certification, and safety.
December 20, 2022: Bicycle Retailer and Industry News online article titled: Dealer association asked CPSC to make statement on e-bike standards.
December 21, 2022: E-mail from PeopleForBikes to members: Update: CPSC letter on micromobility devices. This e-mail announced “…an upcoming meeting to discuss” the implications of the CPSC memorandum of December 19 scheduled to take place January 4.
December 23, 2022: Public notice that Joel Recht and other CPSC staff will meet with Erika Jones, counsel, and representatives from PeopleforBikes to discuss lithium battery safety on micromobility products January 4, 2023.
December 23, 2022: Jay Townley received a return phone call in the afternoon from Joel Recht, CPSC deputy director for Hazard Identification and Reduction, requesting an e-mail address and stating that he would e-mail instructions January 3, 2023, for linking via Webex to observe the scheduled January 4, 2023 public meeting with PeopleForBikes. Recht stated this will be a virtual meeting.
December 29, 2022: Why Taking Leadership In E-Bike Safety Is Essential by Claudia Wasko, VP at Bosch E-bike Systems Americas, Forbes Business Development Council Post.
December 31, 2022: E-bike batteries raise safety concerns amid rise in fires: “Very hard to examine" article by Peter Charalambous, ABC News.