Latest news with #batteryFires
E&E News
3 days ago
- Automotive
- E&E News
Dems question withdrawal of battery safety rulemaking
Two House Democrats are grilling the nation's consumer watchdog over its recent decision to withdraw a proposal to create safety standards for certain lithium-ion batteries. Consumer Product Safety Commission acting Chair Peter Feldman and Commissioner Douglas Dziak, both Republicans, voted 2-0 on May 13 to repeal a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish standards for batteries used in scooters, e-bikes and other micromobility devices. The CPSC had voted 3-2 to advance the proposal just two weeks prior, with Democrats on the commission calling the batteries 'ticking time bombs.' Then, after President Donald Trump fired all three Democratic commissioners, Feldman and Dziak changed course. Advertisement Battery fires have killed dozens of people in recent years and posed problems for first responders, who have struggled to get the blazes under control. The batteries' ability to combust has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- Washington Post
Southwest Airlines will require chargers be kept out while in use because of battery fire concerns
Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them because of concerns about the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires in a new policy that other airlines may adopt. Southwest announced the new policy that will go into effect May 28 and said passengers may have already seen notifications about the rule when using the airline's app. While Southwest is the first U.S. airline to restrict the use of portable chargers like this, several Asian airlines have taken action earlier this year after a devastating fire aboard an Air Busan plane waiting to take off from an airport in South Korea in January.
