b'This issue extends beyond vehicle ferries. Passenger-onlyMicromobility devices are making personal transportation FOGHORN FOCUS vessels are seeing a growing number of lithium-ion bat- moreaccessible,andtheirpresenceonpassengervessels terypoweredmicromobilityvehicles(e-bikes,scooters,is expected to grow. This category includes electric bikes and monowheels), which present a heightened fire risk(e-bikes),compactelectricscootersandthesingle-wheel due to the number of vehicles and the limited regulationdevices (often referred to as monowheels).of these vehicles.E-bikesarethelargestsegmentofthemicromobility While an outright ban on micromobility devices wouldmarket with an estimated 500 different brands available eliminate the associated risks, its not a practical solutionaround the world. All the major brands now offer bikes for most operators. With a growing micromobility marketwith UL certification, commonly the UL 2271 certifi-there are some practices and policies that operators can putcationthatcoversthebatteries,UL2849thatcovers into place to address this emerging challenge. theelectroniccomponentsinane-biketestedtogeth-erasasystem,andUL2271coverselectricalsystems forotherpersonalmobilitydevicessuchase-scooters In the U.S. alone, the and monowheels.Local government incentives continue to be offered for mi-2022 market was nearlycromobility devices as agencies seek to reduce carbon emis-$2 billion and is expectedsions and provide accessible transportation to all citizens.WHY WORRY ABOUT to grow to $7.5 billion byMICROMOBILITY VEHICLES?Thefirstconcernwiththesesmallelectricvehiclesis 2020. With this growinglithium-ion battery fires. With UL certification, use of the charger that was supplied with the bike and main-market share, the industrytaining a bike with no damage to the battery, a fire is unlikely. Battery fires result from the use of inexpensive has seen advances in third-partyreplacementbatteries,damagedbatteries, custom modifications to batteries, and exposure of those technology and maturity batteries to salt water.Another concern related to micromobility vehicles is stor-in safety.age of those vehicles. Many e-bikes have larger tires, use heavier frames, and are larger than traditional bikes. Many passenger vessels have bike racks in designated areas, but they may not be adequate for e-bikes. Passengers often try GROWTH OF THE MICROMOBILITY MARKET to place folding scooters and monowheels near where they The global electric bike market was valued at about $37.5sit or have luggage so these electric vehicles could be posi-billionin2022andisprojectedtoreach$120billiontioned around the vessel.by 2030. In the U.S. alone, the 2022 market was nearly $2 billion and is expected to grow to $7.5 billion by 2020.Passengers may also want to charge the batteries of their Withthisgrowingmarketshare,theindustryhasseenelectric micromobility devices while onboard. However, advancesintechnologyandmaturityinsafety.Majorbattery charging is the most likely time at which a lithi-mobility brands now offer UL-certified vessels, helpingum-ion battery fire may start. Risks are heightened when ensure that battery fires remain extremely rare. Addition- passengers use aftermarket chargers and access outlets in ally, third-party safety certifications are becoming moreuncontrolled areas of the vessel. Since most e-bikes have common, offering operators and consumers greater con- removable batteries, passengers may attempt to remove fidence in reliability and safety.the battery and charge them in various passenger areas FOGHORN 16'