Rad Power Bikes’ batteries are a fire risk and shouldn’t be used, CPSC warns

The US Consumer Protection Safety Commission issued a stark informing astir Rad Power Bikes’ e-bike batteries Monday, linking them to dozens of fires and saying they “pose a hazard of superior wounded and death.”

The batteries tin “unexpectedly ignite and explode,” particularly erstwhile h2o oregon debris leaks successful to cells oregon the harness, the bureau says. CPSC says determination person been 31 fires, including 12 reports of spot harm totaling $734,500, immoderate of which occurred erstwhile the artillery was not charging and the motorcycle was successful retention oregon not successful use. No injuries were reported arsenic a effect of the fires.

The pursuing models are included successful the CPSC warning: RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus, and RadExpand 5. According to the agency, the artillery exemplary fig (HL-RP-S1304 oregon RP-1304) is printed connected a statement connected the backmost oregon rear of the battery. All the batteries were manufactured successful China.

Rad Power Bikes has “refused to hold to an acceptable recall,” CPSC says successful its statement. “Given its fiscal situation, Rad Power Bikes has indicated to CPSC that it is incapable to connection replacement batteries oregon refunds to each consumers.”

The Seattle-based company, which is 1 of the starring sellers of e-bikes successful North America, has fallen connected hard times recently, successful the aftermath of the post-covid motorcycle boom. Rad Power Bikes is presently facing “significant fiscal challenges” that could pb to its imminent closure without a currency infusion, GeekWire reported earlier this month.

Poorly made e-bike batteries person been implicated successful galore deadly fires crossed the US and the UK successful caller years. In New York City alone, wherever tens of thousands of transportation workers thrust astir connected e-bikes each day, dozens of radical person been killed successful fires linked to faulty lithium-ion batteries.

But portion Rad Power Bikes hasn’t been implicated successful immoderate fires that person resulted successful wounded oregon fatality, the institution was alert that the cognition of faulty batteries could surely wounded its business. Last year, Rad Power Bikes introduced caller batteries with thermal resistant technology designed to forestall fires. The institution injects an epoxy resin into the artillery cells, which prevents a chemic absorption successful the artillery that tin origin it to vigor up to the constituent of exploding, besides known arsenic a thermal runaway.

Rad Power Bikes has taken different information steps, too, including shifting to the 21,700 cells (21mm successful diameter and 70mm successful length) from the 18,650 cells for its batteries and complying with UL information certification for some its bikes and batteries. 

Reached for comment, Rad Power Bikes manager of marque selling and communications Kelsey Wolf said the institution “strongly disagrees” with CPSC’s characterization of its batteries arsenic defective oregon unsafe. Independent tests person confirmed that Rad’s batteries conform to the industry’s information standards, she said, noting that CSPC does not quality these findings.

“The incidental complaint associated with the batteries successful the CPSC’s announcement is simply a fraction of 1 percent,” Wolf said successful a statement. “While that fig is low, we cognize adjacent 1 incidental is 1 excessively many, and we are heartbroken by immoderate study involving our products.”

She said that Rad Power Bikes is committed to moving with CPSC to code its concerns. The institution pitched “multiple good-faith solutions,” including offering its customers an accidental to upgrade to the caller thermal resistant batteries astatine a discount — but CPSC rejected this solution.

“The important outgo of the all-or-nothing request would unit Rad to unopen its doors immediately, leaving nary mode to enactment our riders oregon our employees,” Wolf said.