FDNY Shuts Down Illegal Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Operation in Queens
NEW YORK — The FDNY announced the closure of an illicit lithium-ion battery manufacturing operation in Queens. The business, known as Wilson’s Electric Scooters and Sales, located on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, was found to be operating without proper regulations.
Owner Wilson Chen expressed frustration, stating, “Nobody teaches me. They don’t do anything but take money and give me tickets. We want to make good quality batteries for sale, so we need the sample to apply for a UL license.”
During the operation, officials recovered approximately 60 battery packs and hundreds of individual lithium-ion cells. In addition, around 25 electric scooters and 25 hybrid electric and gas mopeds were seized. FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh noted that the department’s Lithium-Ion Task Force discovered the business was assembling battery packs from individual cells and replacing old batteries in violation of fire codes, leading to the creation of what she termed “Frankenstein batteries.”
Kavanagh emphasized the dangers of unregulated and tampered batteries, stating, “They kill people, they have killed people, and they will kill more people if businesses continue to operate in this manner.”
Local resident Justin Yap, who lives nearby, commented on the situation, saying, “They always have the bikes parked out, kind of covering the sidewalk. That’s a good thing, to have the neighborhood a little safer.”
The FDNY confirmed that a fire in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, around 3:30 a.m. was caused by a lithium-ion battery intended for a moped. The individual involved had purchased the battery from a street vendor, unaware of its certification or origin. FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Daniel Flynn stated, “It was not the original battery that came with the product.”
The FDNY hopes this bust sends a clear message to similar businesses: “We will find you, we will shut you down, and what you’re doing is dangerous,” Kavanagh warned.
In 2023, lithium-ion batteries were linked to 267 fires, resulting in 150 injuries and 18 fatalities in the city.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/fdny-seizes-illegal-lithium-ion-battery-operation-in-queens/
