In June 2026 the Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed a mandatory safety standard for lithium-ion batteries in micromobility products, and electric unicycles are named in it. Here is what the proposal covers and what it means for riders.
What the CPSC proposed
On June 24, 2026, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register. It would create a mandatory federal safety standard for the lithium-ion batteries used in micromobility products, and for the electrical systems of the products that contain them.
The proposal defines a micromobility product as an e-bike, e-scooter, self-balancing scooter (such as a hoverboard), e-skateboard, electric unicycle, or a hybrid of these designs. That puts EUCs squarely inside a proposed federal battery rule.
Which safety standards it builds on
Rather than writing a standard from scratch, the CPSC proposes making existing voluntary UL standards mandatory, with extra requirements added:
- UL 2272 would apply to electric unicycles, e-scooters, self-balancing scooters, e-skateboards and hybrids.
- UL 2849 would apply to e-bikes.
- UL 2271 would apply to user-replaceable battery packs.
On top of those standards, the proposal adds requirements including tamper-resistant battery enclosures, a charging test after the battery has been discharged, a reverse-polarity test, and clearer warning labels about thermal runaway and electric shock.
Why the CPSC is acting
The notice draws on the CPSC’s in-depth review of 227 incidents involving lithium-ion micromobility products between 2019 and 2023. Those incidents were associated with 39 deaths and 181 injuries. Fires made up 195 of the incidents (86 percent) and accounted for all 39 deaths, and 120 of the incidents (53 percent) happened while a device was charging.
Those figures cover all of the product types in the proposal together. The notice does not break out deaths or injuries for electric unicycles on their own.
What happens next
The public comment period closed on August 24, 2026. The CPSC now reviews the comments before deciding whether to issue a final rule, and any final rule would set its own effective date. You can follow the proposal on the Federal Register.
Some cities already go further. New York City passed a law in 2023 requiring e-bikes, e-scooters and other powered mobility devices sold in the city to be certified to UL 2849 or UL 2272.
What it means if you ride or are buying an EUC
- Ask about UL 2272. It is the standard the CPSC proposes for electric unicycles, so ask the seller whether a wheel is certified to it.
- Charge with care. Most fires in the CPSC data happened during charging. Use the original charger, charge where you can see the wheel and keep it away from exits. Our electric unicycle battery safety guide covers this in detail.
- Check a pre-owned wheel’s battery. Every used electric unicycle we list shows its battery health, alongside its condition grade and mileage.
Sources
Feature photo: Unsplash.
