Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, UL Standards & Engagement released a new report, The Rechargeable Society: Building Trust in a Battery-Powered World, examining how rechargeable battery technology is transforming everyday life — from the devices consumers carry to the vehicles they drive and the energy systems that power their homes and communities — and bringing safety challenges that must be addressed as adoption accelerates.
The report explores the opportunities and safety risks that come with the rapid adoption and scaling of rechargeable technology, highlighting the need for safety standards, consumer education, and greater awareness.
“We are living in a rechargeable society. With an increasing ability to live untethered, rechargeable battery technology is integral to modern life,” said Jeff Marootian, president & CEO of UL Standards & Engagement. “As their presence grows, our understanding of this technology, and how to use it more safely, must too.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Rechargeable batteries have become essential to modern life, bringing battery safety into new parts of everyday life. Rechargeable batteries are ubiquitous in American life, with 98% of consumers owning at least one rechargeable device and the average person owning nine battery-powered devices. That expansion increasingly extends beyond traditional consumer electronics into transportation, with growing ownership of e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric vehicles.
- Batteries are evolving from consumer products to include critical infrastructure. Battery energy storage systems are increasingly being used in homes, data centers, and across the electric grid to provide backup power, support energy resilience, and balance electricity supply and demand.
- Battery safety risks are growing as consumer awareness lags behind adoption. Consumers are unfamiliar with lithium-ion battery technology and how to use it safely. Only 43% know what a lithium-ion battery is, 59% are unfamiliar with ways to reduce thermal runaway risk, and 36% are not sure or believe it is safe to throw old batteries in household trash or recycling. These knowledge gaps contribute to risky behaviors that can result in fire.
- The growth of e-commerce is making counterfeit and substandard battery products harder to identify yet easier to buy. Consumers increasingly encounter legitimate products alongside counterfeit and substandard alternatives that may look nearly identical but differ significantly in battery quality, manufacturing controls, testing, certification, and safety performance. More than half (56%) of consumers report purchasing rechargeable products from online marketplaces where differences can be even more difficult to spot.
The report also highlights the role of safety standards in addressing risks that consumers may overlook or not fully understand, while supporting innovation as battery technology continues to mature and accelerate. ULSE has developed a range of standards addressing battery safety, performance and sustainability across applications, building on more than a century of expertise in safety science.
“Building trust in a rechargeable society requires more than addressing risks after they emerge. It means anticipating where technology is going, understanding the risks that come with innovation, and bringing the right people together to address them. ULSE is proud to help shape a future where safety keeps pace with innovation, so people can confidently adopt and rely on the technologies powering modern life,” concluded Marootian.
To read the full report, visit http://ulse.org/battery-safety-report.
Methodology
This report combines data from multiple research and insights studies conducted by ULSE.
Quantitative survey data was taken from ULSE’s Consumer Tracker Series: a nationally representative online survey series of U.S. adults ages 18+. This report combines findings from four survey series conducted between August 2023-April 2026, with a cumulative n=73,723 U.S. adults surveyed.
Qualitative data was drawn from multiple studies conducted by ULSE between 2024 and 2026. Methods included in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic research, with consumers (n=61), airline passengers (n=96) and industry stakeholders (n=36).
Economic modelling and results presented in this report include estimates of fire incidents and associated costs produced by Oxford Economics in partnership with ULSE, using several indicators collected by FDNY, CPSC, NII Clearinghouse, and the UL Solutions Li-Ion Battery Fire Incident Database.
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About ULSE
UL Standards & Engagement is a nonprofit organization that translates safety science into action through standards development, partnerships, and advocacy. Since 1903, we have developed nearly 1,700 standards and guidance documents for products ranging from fire doors to autonomous vehicles. ULSE enables innovation and grows trust by convening experts and informing policymakers and regulators as we work toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future. Visit ULSE.org for more information.
Catie Talenti UL Standards & Engagement catie.talenti@ul.org
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