The City Council passed a series of bills Thursday intended to regulate lithium-ion batteries, the commonly used power sources for e-bikes and electric scooters that have been connected to an increasing number of fires across the five boroughs.

The five bills attack the problem on two tracks: educating the public and restricting the sale of unlicensed batteries.

In 2022, there were 220 investigations, 147 injuries and six deaths connected to fires involving lithium-ion batteries, according to the FDNY’s Bureau of Fire Investigation. That’s up from 104 investigations, 79 injuries and four deaths in 2021.

Just 39 injuries and no deaths were reported in 2019 and 2020 combined, data shows.

As of Feb. 27 of this year, 40 injuries and two deaths across 30 investigations can already be linked to fires involving the batteries, FDNY numbers show.

One bill, sponsored by Bronx Councilmember Oswald Feliz, would require all lithium-ion batteries sold in the city to meet industry safety standards as determined by an accredited testing laboratory and be labeled as such.

“Last year, there were approximately 220 fires caused by defective e-bike batteries. Families were displaced, and some of them lost loved ones. This cannot become the norm,” Feliz said in a statement. “Not all batteries have caused fire safety challenges. Batteries that are certified have safety-related tools that help prevent overheating and other malfunctions that lead to fires.”

Two other bills sponsored by Manhattan Councilmember Gale Brewer would require the FDNY to create an awareness campaign on safe batteries and best practices, and ban the assembly or sale of batteries with cells from used ones.

“E-bike battery fires are another example of new technology outpacing government regulation. Federal lawmakers need to create strict rules that stop companies from selling dangerous batteries,” Brewer said in a statement. She also is calling on the city to create “opportunities to exchange dangerous batteries for safe ones, free battery disposal, and safe places to charge.”

Another bill sponsored by Brooklyn Councilmember Alexa Avilés would require the city to produce material on e-bike safety for delivery workers and mandate third-party delivery apps like Seamless and Uber to distribute them.

And a fifth bill, sponsored by Queens Councilmember Robert Holden, would require the FDNY to make annual reports for the next five years on the fire risks of e-bikes, electric scooters, and other electronic transportation devices.

“The toll that fires are increasingly having on families and communities is devastating and requires the urgent attention of all levels of government,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in a statement. “There is continued work to do with all stakeholders, particularly our deliveristas, to support livelihoods and safety.”

The mayor’s office endorsed the legislation, saying through a spokesperson that “these measures will go a long way in keeping New Yorkers safe.”