SF Enforces Stricter Rules for Batteries in Electric Bikes, Scooters Amid Rising Fire Concerns

San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin still remembers the night he visited a fire at the Golden Gateway, an apartment complex near the Embarcadero, which is part of the district he represents. Peskin said the fire was started by the lithium-ion battery in one of the five e-scooters a person in the building was charging. People living in the 15-unit building were displaced for a long period.

Peskin said, at this point, he realized these batteries could be dangerous and that something had to be done.

Last month, the city’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to approve the legislation, which Supervisor Peskin introduced last November in an attempt to curb the number of such incidents.

Since then, between 2020 and 2023, the San Francisco Fire Department has recorded 65 incidents related to rechargeable batteries. In addition, these numbers have steadily increased every year since 2017 — another reason why Peskin introduced the legislation. He said that at least one person had already died in San Francisco from one of these incidents. In New York, a journalist died in February when a fire sparked by one of these batteries.

“Unfortunately, lithium-ion batteries, which are subject to … very hot, fast-moving fires, have increased in number exponentially over the last several years, not only in San Francisco but around the country,” Peskin said. “The federal government is not regulating the inflow of inferior, poorly made devices that have been exploding and bursting into flames. So now that happens, it looks like, every week in San Francisco, and with our dense, mostly wooden-framed building environment, it poses serious risks to the lives and homes of San Franciscans.”

San Francisco Fire Department Capt. Justin Schorr said that many of these fires are caused by batteries that run popular power-mobility devices such as electric bikes, scooters, hoverboards and skateboards. He said that these fires are difficult to fight because of the incredible heat they emit when they burn.

“What we’re seeing is that not everyone is reading the owner’s manual and the users’ instructions when it comes to storage and charging of the devices, so it’s leading to some unsafe situations,” Schorr said. “These batteries can have such an incredible amount of energy released that it is described as fireworks or small explosions from folks that have seen these batteries fail.”

The new regulations say that single housing units can only store and charge a limit of four batteries, and for those units with more, additional measures such as sprinklers, a smoke detection system and a minimum space of 3 feet between batteries are required.

The legislation also says that every battery must be plugged directly into a wall outlet, avoiding extension cords and power strips, and that users must follow the instructions provided by manufacturers never to use a battery that is damaged or reassembled.

Schorr said that San Franciscans can take other steps to ensure they can always stay safe while charging.

“We want to make sure that people keep those devices away from exit routes. Make sure you set a timer and never let it charge overnight or when you’re not there. These steps, if taken, will decrease the risk of injury and fatality from fires from these batteries., Schorr said.