This is The Stepback , a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on e-bikes, power stations, and how to work anywhere , follow Thomas Ricker . The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here . How it started Lithium-ion batteries are everywhere as we enter the second quarter of the 21st century, and that’s a problem. From exploding e-bikes in stairwells to lithium-ion power banks combusting midflight , the volatile nature of traditional liquid electrolytes has become an undeniable public safety hazard. In 2025, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued recalls for almost 1.9 million power banks from companies like Anker , Baseus, and INIU. It also prompted recalls for tens of thousands of e-bikes over fire concerns, while issuing a rare warning to immediately stop using batteries found in several Rad Power Bikes models. The solution, we’ve been told for at least a decade, is the solid-state battery.…