he U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Monday issued a warning that batteries used in Rad Power Bikes’ e-bikes “pose a risk of serious injury and death,” citing the potential for ignition or explosion. The advisory follows 31 reported fire incidents, including 12 cases causing property damage, some of which occurred while batteries were not charging.
“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 said in its notice.
Rad Power, which recently warned employees it could shut down in January if new funding is not secured, disputed the CPSC’s characterization. “We firmly stand behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the ebike industry, and strongly disagree with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe,” the company said. Rad Power said it offered solutions including upgrading affected customers to its latest batteries, but the CPSC rejected the offer.
The company added that the incident rate for the batteries is “a fraction of one percent” and that it meets “the highest industry standards.” “While that number is low, we know even one incident is one too many, and we are heartbroken by any report involving our products,” Rad Power said.
Owners are advised not to use affected batteries and to dispose of them at municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection centers, rather than throwing them away or taking them to traditional recyclers.
