E-Battery Fire Deaths Climb in New York City
Owners of e-bikes and scooters should check that their batteries are certified and undamaged before charging them at home.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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E-battery injuries and deaths rose sharply in New York City in 2026, prompting the FDNY to launch a million-dollar safety campaign and an inspection task force for bike shops. Eight people have died from battery-related fires so far this year, and residents who ride e-bikes or scooters are most directly affected.
Why it matters
E-bike and scooter use grew across the city starting in 2020 during the COVID pandemic, and lithium-ion fire investigations have climbed 822% since then. The stakes are household-level: a battery that short circuits, is uncertified, punctured, overcharged, or stored in extreme heat can explode inside an apartment or building.
The FDNY reports 619 injuries and 44 deaths from e-batteries over six years in New York City, with eight deaths already recorded in 2026. Between August and September 2026, more than 200 shops across all five boroughs received 136 violations, and 77 summonses were issued to businesses selling illegal, unsafe devices.
The players
FDNY (Fire Department of the City of New York)
The city's fire department runs fire investigations and public safety campaigns, and it launched the million-dollar e-battery safety campaign and the bike shop inspection task force.
The details
E-batteries can explode when they short circuit, are uncertified, punctured, overcharged, improperly charged, or stored in extreme temperatures. In summer 2023, the city passed laws prohibiting the purchase or sale of uncertified batteries, and the FDNY has now paired a million-dollar safety campaign with a task force that inspects bike shops. Inspections between August and September 2026 turned up the violations and summonses that the city is now citing as the enforcement base for the campaign.
Timeline
2020: E-bike and scooter use increased during the COVID pandemic.
Summer 2023: The city passed laws banning the sale of uncertified batteries.
2024 and 2025: Injury and death numbers from e-batteries declined.
2026: E-battery injuries and deaths rose sharply, with four deaths in Bronx battery fires the week before publication.
August-September 2026: More than 200 shops were inspected, with 136 violations and 77 summonses issued.
The Home Front
The 2023 city law banning uncertified battery sales set the regulatory baseline for this issue in New York City. The 2026 spike suggests that enforcement at the point of sale and in shops is now the central housing-and-household safety question for residents who store and charge e-bikes at home.
If you charge an e-bike or scooter at home, check that the battery is certified and undamaged, and never charge it unattended or near exits. Keep batteries out of extreme heat, and if you need electrical work to support safe charging, hire a licensed electrician rather than doing it yourself.
The takeaway
The cause of most of these incidents is the battery itself, so checking that it is certified and not damaged is the most useful step a household can take. Keep the FDNY's inspection and summons findings in mind when buying a replacement battery, and buy only from sellers who can show certification.
Further reading
For more on the safety rules that govern this kind of device, see Electric Vehicles coverage for New York City.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC7 New York.
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Do you think the city is doing enough to keep e-bike batteries safe?
