Fire Risk Warning Issued for Some E-Bike Batteries

The Consumer Product Safety Commission notice cites 31 reports of fires, including 12 incidents with property damage of more than $734,000.

A recalled Rad E-Bike battery. Courtesy of the Consumer Product Safety Commission

Consumers have been warned to immediately stop using batteries for e-bikes from Rad Power Bikes because of serious injury and death risks from ignition of the devices, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated in a Nov. 24 safety warning.

“The hazardous batteries can unexpectedly ignite and explode, posing a fire hazard to consumers, especially when the battery or the harness has been exposed to water and debris,” the warning reads.

The notice is applicable to lithium-ion batteries with model numbers RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304.

“CPSC is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage,” the agency said.

The batteries were sold with Rad Power Bikes e-bike models: RadWagon 4, RadCity HS 4, RadRunner 2, RadRunner 1, RadRunner Plus, RadRover Step Thru 1, RadRover High Step 5, RadCity Step Thru 3, and RadExpand 5. They were also sold as replacements.

The affected batteries were manufactured in China and sold online through the company’s website and also via Best Buy stores and independent bike shops across the United States. They cost roughly $500 when sold as replacements.

CPSC warned customers to immediately remove them from their e-bikes and dispose of them in line with local hazardous waste disposal procedures.

“Do not sell or give away these hazardous batteries,” it warned.

The agency said that Seattle-based Rad Power Bikes has refused to agree to a recall and that the company is unable to offer replacement batteries or refunds because of its financial situation.

In comments submitted to CPSC, Rad Power Bikes said its Safe Shield batteries and semi-integrated batteries are “not subject” to the agency’s safety warning notice and that it had retested these batteries with third-party labs. It stated that the devices passed the tests.

“Nonetheless, in an effort to partner with the CPSC, Rad proposed multiple solutions to the agency in good faith,“ the company said. ”Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders.

“Rad is disappointed that it could not reach a resolution that best serves our riders and the industry at large. Rad reminds its customers to inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion, and to contact Rad so we can support our riders.”

In a Nov. 24 statement responding to CPSC’s safety statement, Rad Power Bikes said it disagrees with the agency’s characterization that some of its batteries were “defective or unsafe.”

The company said it has a “long and well-documented” record of building safe, reliable e-bikes that have batteries meeting or exceeding international safety standards, such as UL-2271 and UL-2849.

Rad Power Bikes argued it was a “widely understood” fact that all lithium-ion batteries can pose a fire risk if they are improperly charged, damaged, put in extreme temperatures, or exposed to excess moisture.

“Contrary to the CPSC’s statement, mere exposure to water and debris does not create a hazard; rather, significant water exposure, as warned against in our manuals, can pose a hazard,” the company stated.

Regulations and Standards

Multiple efforts are underway to establish regulations and standards for lithium-ion batteries.

In April, the bipartisan Setting Consumer Standards for Lithium-Ion Batteries Act was passed by the House of Representatives, according to an April 28 statement from the office of Rep. Richie Torres (D-N.Y.), who is backing the bill.

The proposed legislation would require the CPSC to publish a “consumer product safety standard for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in e-bikes and other micro mobility devices to protect against the risk of fires caused by such batteries,” according to the statement. The bill is currently in the Senate.

In an Aug.1 statement, the National Bicycle Dealers Association called on stakeholders of the industry, including manufacturers, to voluntarily adopt three product certification standards—UL 2849, UL 2271, and UL 2272—for e-bikes, personal e-mobility devices, and batteries.

“This proactive industry-wide effort aims to protect consumers, reduce liability risks for retailers, and preserve the credibility of the rapidly growing cycling and e-mobility sector before regulatory mandates are imposed,” the association said.

Multiple e-bike recalls have been issued over the past months because of issues arising from lithium-ion batteries.

In July, a recall was issued for roughly 24,000 units of VIVI brand e-bikes sold by China-based Guangzhou Plenty Bicycle Co., Ltd., citing the risk that batteries would overheat and pose fire and burn hazards.

Earlier in June, about 180 units of FENGQS F7 Pro E-bikes manufactured by China-based Shenzhen Fengqisi Car Industry Co., Ltd. were also recalled, citing similar issues.