The Facts

Low quality or knock-off chargers and batteries without a UL certification will soon be banned in San Francisco. This week, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood introduced legislation to ban the sale of uncertified lithium-ion batteries and powered devices used in e-bikes and scooters after a December fire at 50 Golden Gate Ave. was linked to a battery malfunction.

The Context

San Francisco adopted a fire code ordinance in 2024 that restricted damaged and reconditioned batteries in powered mobility devices. That legislation required the use of certified devices but didn't restrict the purchase thereof.

The GrowSF Take

Far from being government overreach, requiring consumer-grade electronic devices to obtain a UL certification is just common sense. UL certification is already required to pass city inspection for electrical work, so applying the same standards to what we plug into the wall makes sense.