Rad Power Bikes Batteries Pose Major Fire Hazard
▼ Summary
– The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warns that Rad Power Bikes’ e-bike batteries can ignite or explode, posing serious injury or death risks.
– There have been 31 reported fire incidents linked to these batteries, some causing property damage and occurring even when not charging.
– Rad Power Bikes refused a recall, citing financial constraints that prevent offering replacements or refunds to all consumers.
– The company disputes the CPSC’s characterization, stating its batteries meet high industry standards and have a very low incident rate.
– Owners are advised to check the CPSC warning page and dispose of affected batteries at hazardous waste collection centers, not in regular trash.
Federal safety officials have issued a critical warning regarding Rad Power Bikes batteries, citing significant fire and explosion hazards. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises owners to immediately stop using these batteries due to risks of serious injury or death. This urgent alert follows numerous documented incidents where batteries ignited unexpectedly.
According to the CPSC, there have been 31 fire reports linked specifically to these e-bike batteries. Twelve of these incidents caused property damage, with some fires erupting even when the batteries were not connected to chargers. The commission highlighted that exposure to water and debris increases the likelihood of these hazardous batteries igniting or exploding.
This safety crisis arrives at an especially challenging moment for Rad Power Bikes. The company recently informed employees that it faces permanent closure in January without securing new financial backing. Compounding these difficulties, the CPSC publicly stated that Rad Power declined to participate in an acceptable recall plan. The agency claims the company cited its precarious financial state as preventing it from offering universal battery replacements or refunds to consumers.
In response, Rad Power Bikes defended its products and corporate reputation. The company expressed strong disagreement with the CPSC’s characterization of certain batteries as defective or unsafe. A spokesperson emphasized that Rad Power stands firmly behind its batteries, which they assert comply with the highest industry standards. They noted the incident rate mentioned by the CPSC represents a fraction of one percent of batteries in use.
Rad Power also stated it had proposed several good-faith solutions to regulators, including upgrading affected customers to its newest battery models not covered by the warning. The company claims the CPSC rejected this approach, insisting on a comprehensive solution that Rad Power says would force immediate bankruptcy. Such an outcome would eliminate any capacity to support customers or retain employees. Despite the low statistical risk, the company acknowledged that any safety incident is unacceptable and expressed concern over reported issues.
Consumers who own Rad Power Bikes should check the official CPSC warning page to determine if their battery falls under this alert. The commission provides specific disposal instructions, advising against discarding these lithium-ion batteries with regular trash or taking them to standard recyclers. Instead, owners should transport the batteries to designated municipal household hazardous waste collection centers for proper handling.
(Source: TechCrunch)
