H.R. 7928 — Thermal Runaway Reduction Act of 2026

This section defines, for purposes of the Act, (1) lithium-ion cell or battery as a rechargeable electrochemical cell or battery in which the positive and negative electrodes are both intercalation compounds constructed with no metallic lithium in either electrode (excluding a cell or battery described in 49 CFR 173.185(c) or (g)(2)), and (2) thermal runaway as an uncontrolled increase of cell temperature caused by exothermic reactions inside cells and batteries, including lithium-ion cells or batteries.

This section requires the Secretary of Transportation, not later than two years after enactment, to (1) work with the United Nations Subcommittee of Experts on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods to revise design tests in subsection 38.3 of the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria by developing an impact test for lithium-ion cells or batteries installed in transport units and transported under UN 3536 to better withstand transport accident forces without thermal runaway; (2) issue regulations amending 49 CFR 173.185 to require lithium-ion cells or batteries offered for commercial transport at a state of charge not exceeding 30% of rated capacity (per UN Manual section 38.3.2.3 methodology) and to authorize transport above 30% state of charge only under conditions approved by the Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) per 49 CFR part 107 subpart H; (3) issue regulations or final guidance on safe transportation of damaged, defective, or recalled lithium-ion cells or batteries, including on packaging, movement, and disposal; and (4) review and update, as appropriate, such regulations and guidance every five years to address emerging batteries or cells posing thermal runaway risks during commercial transport.

This section establishes a grant program administered by the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to provide $10 million (authorized for FY2027 through FY2031) to eligible fire suppression testing facilities for projects testing (1) innovative technologies and methods to suppress thermal runaway (i.e., uncontrolled chain reaction of heat, fire, or explosion) in lithium-ion cells or batteries transported under UN 3536 (i.e., lithium batteries packed with or in equipment) in commercial transport units; (2) the impact of battery state of charge on such suppression methods; and (3) emergency responder methods to verify state of charge during thermal runaway from fire or crash. The program prioritizes PFAS-free, cost-effective suppression technologies. PHMSA must finalize eligibility requirements and solicit applications within one year of enactment (with 90 days for submissions and recipient selection within 180 days of solicitation, reporting to Congress any missed deadlines); grant projects must conclude within 18 months of funding; recipients must submit test findings to PHMSA; and PHMSA must submit a report to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation within 120 days of receiving all recipient reports, including key findings, state-of-charge impacts, verification methods, and recommendations for updated PHMSA guidance or training.

This section establishes a competitive grant program under 49 U.S.C. §5107(j) for volunteer or career fire departments (or combinations thereof) to acquire equipment and tools addressing thermal runaway (i.e., self-sustaining fires) from lithium-ion cells or batteries in transportation, including (1) suppression blankets, portable agents, and related equipment; (2) field-deployed residual-energy assessment and cell-integrity diagnostics; (3) environmental monitoring and runoff control for post-event cleanup; and (4) access, containment, over-pack, and packaging systems for damaged, defective, or recalled cells or batteries. It further requires under §5107(k) a 90-day application period and grant recipient selection within 180 days of solicitation initiation. The Secretary of Transportation must finalize eligibility requirements and begin soliciting applications not later than 1 year after enactment.