NYC Will Mandate Safety Certification for Micromobility Devices and Their Batteries,
Devices and Their Batteries,

▍What is PSE Certification?

PSE (Product Safety of Electrical Appliance & Material) is a mandatory certification system in Japan. It is also called ‘Compliance Inspection’ which it is a mandatory market access system for electrical appliance. PSE certification is composed of two parts: EMC and product safety and it is also an important regulation of Japan safety law for electrical appliance.

▍Certification Standard for lithium batteries

Interpretation for METI Ordinance for Technical Requirements(H25.07.01)， Appendix 9，Lithium ion secondary batteries

▍Why MCM?

● Qualified facilities: MCM is equipped with qualified facilities which can be up to the whole PSE testing standards and conduct tests including forced internal short circuit etc. It enables us to provide different customized testing reports in the format of JET, TUVRH, and MCM etc.

● Technical support: MCM has a professional team of 11 technical engineers specialized in PSE testing standards and regulations, and is able to offer the latest PSE regulations and news to clients in a precise, comprehensive and prompt way.

● Diversified service: MCM can issue reports in English or Japanese to meet clients’ need. So far, MCM has completed over 5000 PSE projects for clients in total.

In 2020, NYC legalized electric bicycles and scooters. E-bikes have been used in NYC even earlier. Since 2020, the popularity of these light vehicles in NYC has increased significantly due to legalization and the Covid-19 epidemic. Nationwide, e-bike sales surpassed electric and hybrid car sales in both 2021 and 2022. However, these new modes of transportation also pose serious fire risks and challenges. Fires caused by batteries in light vehicles are a growing problem in NYC.The number rose from 44 in 2020 to 104 in 2021 and 220 in 2022. In the first two months of 2023, there were 30 such fires. Fires were particularly damaging because they are difficult to extinguish. Lithium-ion batteries are one of the worst sources of fire. Like cars and other technologies, light vehicles can be dangerous if they don’t meet safety standards or are used incorrectly.Based on the above problems, on March 2, 2023, NYC Council voted to strengthen the fire safety control of electric bicycles and scooters and other products as well as lithium batteries. Proposal 663-A calls for:Electric bicycles and scooters and other equipment as well as internal lithium batteries, cannot be sold or rented if they do not meet specific safety certification.To be sold legally, the devices and batteries above must be certified to the relevant UL safety standards.The logo or name of the test laboratory should be displayed on the product packaging, documentation or product itself.