Amendment of Municipal Code Titles 2 and 4 by adding new Section 2-36-520 and new Chapter 4-24 regarding lithium-ion battery safety certifications, including lithium battery re-use standards or prohibitions for electric bicycles and other mobility devices

Votes › License and Consumer Protection › 50th Ward: Debra L. Silverstein

Clerk's short name: Used Lithium battery prohibitions on resale

Record number: SO2024-0007754
Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
Status: Final
Sponsor: Debra L. Silverstein (50th Ward)
Co-sponsors (1): James M. Gardiner (45th Ward)
Committee: Committee on License and Consumer Protection
Introduction Date: Feb 21, 2024
Final Action Date: Sep 18, 2024
Official record: Office of the City Clerk

Roll call: Passed Sep 18, 2024

48 yea, 0 nay, 2 absent. On motion of Alderperson Silverstein, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the City Council meeting of Sep 18, 2024.

Yea (48): Daniel La Spata (1), Brian Hopkins (2), Pat Dowell (3), Lamont J. Robinson (4), Desmon C. Yancy (5), William E. Hall (6), Gregory I. Mitchell (7), Michelle A. Harris (8), Anthony Beale (9), Peter Chico (10), Nicole T. Lee (11), Julia M. Ramirez (12), Marty Quinn (13), Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (14), Raymond A. Lopez (15), Stephanie D. Coleman (16), David H. Moore (17), Derrick G. Curtis (18), Matthew J. O'Shea (19), Ronnie L. Mosley (21), Michael D. Rodriguez (22), Silvana Tabares (23), Monique L. Scott (24), Byron Sigcho-López (25), Jessica L. Fuentes (26), Jason C. Ervin (28), Chris Taliaferro (29), Ruth Cruz (30), Felix Cardona Jr. (31), Scott Waguespack (32), Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez (33), William Conway (34), Gilbert Villegas (36), Emma Mitts (37), Nicholas Sposato (38), Samantha Nugent (39), Andre Vasquez Jr. (40), Anthony V. Napolitano (41), Brendan Reilly (42), Timothy R. Knudsen (43), Bennett R. Lawson (44), James M. Gardiner (45), Angela Clay (46), Matthew J. Martin (47), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48), Maria E. Hadden (49), Debra L. Silverstein (50), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (former member)

Absent (2): Jeanette B. Taylor (20), Walter R. Burnett (27)

Impact report

Written by AI from the official document. AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance would ban selling or renting e-bikes, e-scooters, and their batteries in Chicago unless they are certified to UL safety standards, ban rebuilding or selling batteries made from used battery cells, and require yearly Fire Department reports on fires caused by these devices.

Who it affects

Stores, distributors, and rental businesses that sell or rent e-bikes, e-scooters, or their batteries: They could only sell, lease, or rent these products if they are certified to the right UL safety standard and show the certification or testing lab logo on the product, packaging, or paperwork.
Businesses that use e-bikes or e-scooters for work, such as delivery operations: They could not operate a powered bicycle or powered mobility device for business unless its electrical system is UL certified.
People who rebuild or resell lithium-ion batteries: It would be illegal to build, recondition, or sell lithium-ion batteries using cells taken from used batteries, though recycling batteries would still be allowed.
E-bike and e-scooter buyers and riders: Devices and batteries offered for sale or rent would need to carry a UL certification or testing lab mark, and the Department of the Environment could make rules on how the public stores, uses, and throws away lithium-ion batteries.
Chicago Fire Department: It would have to send a yearly report to the Mayor and City Council on fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters, including where they happened, code reviews, and its prevention and enforcement work.
Battery recyclers: The ban on reconditioned batteries states that it does not stop the recycling of batteries or their parts.

What changes

E-bikes and e-scooters sold, leased, or rented in Chicago must have UL-certified electrical systems (UL 2849 for e-bikes, UL 2272 for e-scooters and similar devices).
Replacement batteries for these devices must be UL 2271 certified and show the certification or lab logo.
Batteries rebuilt from cells taken out of used lithium-ion batteries could not be made or sold.
The Department of the Environment may create rules on storing, using, and disposing of lithium-ion batteries.
Starting in 2025, the Fire Department would report by March 1 each year on fires caused by e-bikes and e-scooters.

Money

Anyone who breaks these rules, or rules made under them, would be fined $100 to $2,000 per offense, paid to the City.
For sales and rental rules, each non-compliant product type (stock keeping unit) counts as a separate violation, so fines can add up per product type.

Where: 50th Ward

When: 10 days following passage and publication

Timeline

Feb 21, 2024: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
May 14, 2024: Recommended for Re-Referral, Committee on Police and Fire. The matter was recommended for Re-Referral by controlling legislative body.
May 22, 2024: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
Jun 5, 2024: Substituted, Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The matter was substituted in committee.
Jun 5, 2024: Recommended to Pass, Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
Jun 12, 2024: Referred, City Council. The matter was Referred to Committee.
Sep 11, 2024: Recommended to Pass, Committee on License and Consumer Protection. The matter was recommended to Pass by controlling legislative body.
Sep 18, 2024: Passed, City Council (48 yea, 0 nay), at the City Council meeting. On motion of Alderperson Silverstein, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed.

Documents

SO2024-0007754 Lithium Battery.June 5.pdf (Legislation)
So2024-0007754 Digital Tracking Sheet.pdf (Miscellaneous)
Letter SO-7754.pdf (Committee Letter)
Lithium Battery Standards Ordinance 1_11_24.pdf (Legislation)
Re-referral Comm Let to License.May 22.pdf (Committee Letter)
SO2024-0007754 Lithium Battery Sub Ordinance 9.5.24 (1) FINAL.pdf (Legislation)

Lobbying and money

Computed links; money near a vote is not evidence that it influenced the vote.

Who lobbied on it

Doordash, Inc.: DISCUSED O2024-0007754 (1 filing, Apr 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2024; John Daley; matched by record number)
Illinois Environmental Council: AMEND O2024-0007754 (1 filing, Jul 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2024; Iyana Simba; matched by record number)
Ulse Inc. D/B/A Ul Standards & Engagement: INTRODUCTION TO ULSE AND CHANGES TO ORDINANCE SO2024-0007754 (1 filing, Jul 1, 2024 to Sep 30, 2024; David Martin; matched by record number)
Illinois Environmental Council: O2024-0007754 (1 filing, Apr 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2024; Iyana Simba; matched by record number)

Money from these interests in the 365 days before the vote

Member	Vote	Amount	From
Desmon C. Yancy	Yea	$1,575	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.); Iyana Simba (lobbyist for Illinois Environmental Council)
Michelle A. Harris	Yea	$1,500	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Debra L. Silverstein	Yea	$1,500	Doordash, Inc. (company)
William E. Hall	Yea	$1,000	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Jeylú B. Gutiérrez	Yea	$1,000	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Ruth Cruz	Yea	$1,000	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Andre Vasquez Jr.	Yea	$1,000	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Matthew J. O'Shea	Yea	$500	Doordash, Inc. (company)
Bennett R. Lawson	Yea	$500	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)
Daniel La Spata	Yea	$250	John Daley (lobbyist for Doordash, Inc.)

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