What's happening
This bill requires all electric vehicles, including e-bikes and scooters, to have an automatic hand-operated power cutoff switch.
Why it matters
Improves Emergency Safety. Requiring a hand-operated cutoff switch on all electric vehicles—cars, e-bikes, and scooters—means users can instantly cut power in case of an accident or malfunction, potentially reducing injury or fire risk.
Applies Broadly to Micromobility. Unlike many vehicle regulations that target only cars, this law covers smaller devices like electric bikes and scooters, which have seen rising accident rates and fire hazards due to battery issues.
No Key or Unlocking Required. The cutoff switch must work without needing to find or use a key, making it easier for riders, bystanders, or first responders to quickly shut down a device in urgent situations.
Could Impact Manufacturers and Owners. Manufacturers may need to redesign products and retrofit existing vehicles, potentially increasing costs or changing how vehicles are sold and maintained in New York.
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Who cares
Electric motor vehicle owners
The bill would require their vehicles to have a hand-operated switch capable of cutting off all power and electricity without a key or unlocking device.
Electric-assist bicycle and electric scooter riders
The cutoff-switch requirement would expressly cover their bicycles and scooters, not just electric motor vehicles.
Electric vehicle manufacturers
The bill would require all electric vehicles to be equipped with the specified cutoff switch, taking effect immediately.
Headline styles
Require EV Cutoff Switches
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
262
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring electric vehicles to have an automatic cutoff switch
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 384 to read as follows:
§ 384. Electric vehicles; automatic cutoff switch. 1. All electric vehicles, including motor vehicles, bicycles with electric assist, and electric scooters, shall be equipped with an automatic cutoff switch.
2. For the purposes of this section, "automatic cutoff switch" means a hand-operated switch which is capable of cutting off all power and electricity to the vehicle without the need of a key or unlocking device.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01411-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.