Rad Power Bikes E-Bike Batteries Face Fire Risk Warning

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a severe warning to consumers, urging owners of Rad Power Bikes e-bikes to immediately stop using certain batteries due to a significant fire hazard. The commission states that these batteries "pose a risk of serious injury and death" and has linked them to 31 reported fire incidents, some causing property damage and occurring even when not charging. This critical safety alert comes as Rad Power Bikes faces a potential shutdown, further complicating the company's response to the CPSC's demand for a product recall.

The CPSC's warning, released on Monday, highlights the risk of these lithium-ion batteries unexpectedly igniting or exploding. "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 CPSC stated. Out of the 31 reported incidents, twelve resulted in property damage, underscoring the severity of the potential danger.

This safety alert arrives at a particularly challenging time for Rad Power Bikes. The company recently informed employees that it faces a permanent shutdown in January if it fails to secure new funding, adding immense pressure to its ongoing dispute with the CPSC.

The CPSC publicly stated that Rad Power "refused to agree to an acceptable recall," claiming the company cited its financial situation as a barrier to offering replacement batteries or refunds to all affected consumers.

In response, Rad Power Bikes has strongly refuted the CPSC's characterization of its batteries as defective or unsafe. The company told TechCrunch that it "firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the ebike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe." Rad Power asserted that it had proposed "multiple good-faith solutions to address the agency’s concerns," including upgrading customers to its latest battery models, which are not part of the official warning. However, the company claims the CPSC rejected these alternatives, insisting on an "all-or-nothing demand" that would "force Rad to shut its doors immediately, leaving no way to support our riders or our employees." The Verge was the first to report on this disagreement.

Rad Power further defended its products, stating that its batteries comply with "the highest industry standards" and that the "incident rate associated with the batteries in the CPSC’s notice is a fraction of one percent." While acknowledging the low number, the company expressed regret, saying, "While that number is low, we know even one incident is one too many, and we are heartbroken by any report involving our products."

Consumers concerned about their e-bike batteries can visit the CPSC warning page to determine if their specific battery models are affected. The commission advises against disposing of these lithium-ion batteries in regular trash or taking them to traditional recyclers. Instead, owners should transport them to "municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center[s]" for safe disposal.