As fire officials strategize, federal lithium-ion battery regulatory bill stalls

The lithium-ion battery fire problem is one more instance of technology and society advancing too quickly for regulation and prevention to meaningfully keep up. The proliferation of app-based delivery has exploded the popularity of these lithium-ion battery-powered bikes and scooters, which in turn has driven workers — who are by and large lower-income folks looking to ameliorate the steep up-front costs of getting set up to do the work — to cheaper, less well-manufactured and more dangerous batteries. These are simple market dynamics, but unfortunately ones where the triumph of the cheaper product is leading to injury and death.