The short version: Since January 1, 2026, California bars selling, leasing or offering an e-bike unless its battery has been tested by an accredited lab against a standard referenced in UL 2849 or EN 15194, or another standard the State Fire Marshal designates by rule. The lab’s mark and the standard must be permanently affixed to the product, chargers sold for a particular bike must be certified for it, and the manufacturer, importer, distributor or retailer must supply the test report on request. Rentals follow on January 1, 2028. It is a sales rule, not a guarantee about the battery in front of you.
What the law is, and what this page covers
The rules come from Senate Bill 1271, Chapter 791 of the Statutes of 2024, approved by the governor on September 27, 2024. It adds a chapter, starting at Section 26300, to the Health and Safety Code. The same act also changes the Vehicle Code’s e-bike definition, which this page does not cover; riding rules are in E-Bike Laws: What You Can and Cannot Do. This page tracks the enacted text as of 2024. A later amendment or State Fire Marshal rule could change details, so confirm the current code. This is general information, not legal advice.
What must be tested, and to which standard
Loose batteries and chargers are covered, and anything advertised as an “e-bike” or a close variation is held to the e-bike standard.
| Product | Before sale or lease | Standard the law names |
|---|---|---|
| E-bike | Its storage battery tested by an accredited lab | A standard referenced in ANSI/CAN/UL 2849 or EN 15194, or one the State Fire Marshal’s Office sets by rule |
| Loose e-bike battery (replacement, kit battery, or one advertised as suitable for e-bikes) | Designed for an e-bike and tested by an accredited lab, or part of a tested complete electrical system | A battery standard referenced in UL 2849 or EN 15194, or one the Office sets by rule |
| Scooter, moped or similar “powered mobility device” | Its battery tested by an accredited lab | ANSI/CAN/UL 2272 |
| Loose battery designed for a powered mobility device | Tested by an accredited lab | ANSI/CAN/UL 2271, or one the Office sets by rule |
| Charger sold for a particular e-bike, device or battery | Certified for use with that product | Certification is a lab’s attestation that the product was evaluated and tested |
Summaries sometimes cite UL 2271 and sometimes UL 2272 for scooter batteries. In the enacted text, UL 2272 applies to the powered mobility device’s battery and UL 2271 to a loose battery designed for one. E-bikes sit outside that category.
An accredited lab is an independent lab accredited to ISO 17025 or ISO 17065, or a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) recognized under the U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA program. A battery can qualify alone or as part of a tested “complete electrical system,” which includes drive units, batteries and battery management systems (the BMS, the electronics that protect the cells). The statute says “a standard referenced in” UL 2849 or EN 15194, so check the State Fire Marshal’s current rules for added standards, and ask for the lab report if a listing cites one you do not recognize.
Reading a listing, a tag or a shop floor
- Look on the product. The lab’s logo, wordmark, label or name, plus the applicable standard, must be permanently affixed directly on the e-bike or its electrical system, the charger, or the battery.
- Ask for the report. Manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers must provide a true and accurate copy of the lab’s test report on request. Check that the model, lab and standard match what you are buying.
- Match the charger. New York State’s fire-safety guidance says to use the charger that came with the device, to buy only a replacement the manufacturer approves, and that a charger which fits the socket is not necessarily safe. Our e-bike battery care guide covers everyday charging.
- Treat used bikes differently. A seller need not display the lab mark on a secondhand product, so a missing mark on a used e-bike tells you little. Check for recalls (New York’s guidance points to the Consumer Product Safety Commission database) and inspect the case for cracks. Whether other sales rules reach a private resale is a question for a California attorney.
What the mark does not tell you
The law does not say a particular battery is undamaged, correctly charged or properly stored. Damaged, defective or uncertified batteries carry a greater risk of thermal runaway, a self-feeding overheating that causes large, violent fires.
The committee analysis says New York City battery fires were triggered by improper charging devices, too many batteries charging at once, or uncertified batteries. The law’s testing speaks to the last, and its charger rule touches the first. New York’s guidance adds: plug directly into a wall outlet and never leave devices charging while you sleep.
Stop and get help
If a battery feels extremely hot to the touch, swells or bulges, leaks, hisses, cracks or pops, or gives off a strong or unusual odor, treat it as a pack that could catch fire. New York State’s guidance gives the same steps for every one of these signs: stop using it, turn it off and unplug it. If it is safe to do so, move it away from anything flammable using tongs or gloves. Then leave the area and call 911. These signs are an emergency, not a reason to book a shop visit.
If a device is smoking, a fire may already have started. Get outside, stay outside and call 911. Do not try to put out a lithium-ion fire yourself.
A cracked or broken case is a separate matter. New York’s guidance recommends regular checks for one. If you find a crack and none of the signs above, remember that damaged batteries carry a greater risk of thermal runaway: stop using that pack and have the manufacturer or a qualified e-bike shop inspect it. If it also gets hot, swells, hisses or smells, follow the emergency steps instead.
Never open the pack, disassemble or modify the battery, or bypass the BMS. Lithium-ion batteries do not belong in household trash or recycling bins. For a pack that simply will not charge, see e-bike battery not charging.
Where the sources differ
The Assembly Transportation Committee analyzed the version amended on June 11, 2024, for a June 17 hearing. Assembly amendments dated June 26 and August 22, 2024, followed, so the analysis and the enacted law differ in places.
| Point | June 2024 committee analysis | Enacted text |
|---|---|---|
| Where the lab mark goes | On packaging or documentation provided at sale, or directly on the device | Permanently affixed directly on the e-bike or its electrical system, the charger or the battery |
| Chargers | Notes that New York and San Francisco ordinances address charging, and that the bill did not | Chargers sold for a particular e-bike or battery must be certified for use with it |
The EN-versus-UL question was also contested. UL Solutions opposed the bill and argued that the standard EN 62133-2 involves no environmental testing, minimal mechanical testing and far fewer electrical tests than UL 2271. The enacted text still lists EN 15194 for e-bikes alongside UL 2849.
If you sell or rent
- From January 1, 2028, an e-bike may not be rented or offered for rental unless its battery has been tested by an accredited lab, and its charging system must also have been tested. Rented products need not display the lab mark. SGS, a testing company, reports the same 2028 date.
- The State Fire Marshal must adopt California Fire Code regulations promoting the fire and electrical safety of e-bikes, powered mobility devices and storage batteries. For penalties and how the rules apply to your business, ask a California attorney.
Sources
- California Legislative Information: SB-1271 Electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and storage batteries (chaptered text)
- California Assembly Committee on Transportation: SB 1271 (Min) analysis, hearing of June 17, 2024
- SGS: US California State Passes Bill Legislating Electric Bicycle and Powered Mobility Device
- New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: Lithium-Ion Battery, A Consumer Safety Guide
Last reviewed: October 2026.