Requires electric vehicles, including motor vehicles, bicycles with electric assist and electric scooters, to have an automatic cutoff switch; defines automatic cutoff switch.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7497
SPONSOR: Eachus TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring
electric vehicles to have an automatic cutoff switch
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To allow first responders to cut off all power and electricity to an
electric vehicle in order to safely respond to an ongoing emergency such
as a car accident.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Requires electric fuel vehicles to include an automatic
cutoff switch.
Section 2: Sets effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Electric vehicles can present unique safety challenges for drivers,
first responders, and the public at-large. High-voltage lithium-ion
batteries found in most electric vehicles are known to overheat during
emergencies which can cause intense fires that could last for hours. For
some of these vehicles, the lithium-ion battery must be completely
disconnected before first responders can safely use hydraulic rescue
tools, such as the "jaws of life".
This bill will require all new electric vehicles to be equipped with an
automatic cutoff switch capable of turning off all power and electricity
to the vehicle. During emergencies, first responders can use the switch
to turn off the vehicle's power to reduce the risk of damage and injury
extending from these fires.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New. Bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7497
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2023
___________
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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new
2 section 384 to read as follows:
3 § 384. Electric vehicles; automatic cutoff switch. 1. All electric
4 vehicles, including motor vehicles, bicycles with electric assist, and
5 electric scooters, shall be equipped with an automatic cutoff switch.
6 2. For the purposes of this section, "automatic cutoff switch" means a
7 hand-operated switch which is capable of cutting off all power and elec-
8 tricity to the vehicle without the need of a key or unlocking device.
9 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11192-02-3
