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Assembly approves multilingual manual requirement for lithium‑battery e-bikes and scooters
Summary
Lawmakers passed a chapter amendment requiring manufacturers, distributors, assemblers, retailers and lessors of bikes and electric-assist vehicles with lithium batteries to provide an operating manual in English and multiple other common languages and a web link; debate focused on enforcement, who bears responsibility and applicability to bike‑share services.
The Assembly passed a chapter amendment to the General Business Law that requires an operating manual (and a link to a web version) in English and in the three most commonly used non‑English languages in the state for any bike or electric‑assist vehicle that contains a lithium battery. The requirement applies at manufacture, distribution, assembly, sale, lease and reconditioning.
Sponsor Zimmerman said the measure was prompted by fires and safety incidents involving lithium batteries and cited FDNY recommendations. "We're just trying to save lives here," the sponsor said on the floor, stressing that manuals should accompany devices or otherwise be available to users. The amendment allows the manual to be printed or provided in other durable form and requires manufacturers and downstream sellers to ensure the manual is available to consumers.
Members pressed on enforcement and practicality. One member said the bill's intent was laudable but urged placing the onus on manufacturers rather than every step in the supply chain: "I think the intent of the bill is great... I think it would be made better if the onus was put on the manufacturer itself to include the manual," a lawmaker said. Lawmakers also questioned how the requirement would apply to rental and bike‑share services, such as Citi Bike, or to sealed boxes and assembled products; the sponsor suggested docking stations or app links could be used for shared systems.
The Assembly held a party vote; the bill passed, Ayes 104, Noes 45.
