CPSC Warns: Stop Using Rad Power Bikes Over Fire Risk

A significant safety alert has been issued for owners of Rad Power Bikes electric bicycles, with federal regulators warning that certain models pose a serious fire hazard. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has urgently advised consumers to immediately discontinue use of specific Rad Power Bikes models following multiple reports of battery fires that have caused substantial property damage.

Federal safety officials have documented 31 separate fire incidents involving these e-bike batteries, resulting in approximately $734,500 in property losses. Alarmingly, several fires occurred while the batteries were not charging and the bicycles were either in storage or not actively being used. The CPSC warns that these batteries can unexpectedly ignite and explode, particularly when water or debris infiltrates the battery cells or wiring harness.

The affected models include the 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. Consumers can identify potentially hazardous batteries by checking for model numbers HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304 printed on labels located on the back or rear of the battery units. All these batteries were manufactured in China.

According to the CPSC, Rad Power Bikes has declined to participate in what the agency considers an acceptable recall program. The company’s current financial difficulties have reportedly prevented them from offering replacement batteries or refunds to all affected customers. As one of North America’s leading e-bike manufacturers, the Seattle-based company has faced mounting financial challenges following the post-pandemic bicycle sales surge, with recent reports suggesting the business could face imminent closure without additional capital investment.

The broader context of e-bike safety concerns has grown increasingly urgent, with poorly manufactured lithium-ion batteries implicated in numerous fatal fires across the United States and United Kingdom. In New York City alone, where thousands of delivery workers rely on e-bikes daily, dozens of fatalities have been linked to faulty battery systems in recent years.

While no injuries or fatalities have been connected to Rad Power Bikes’ products specifically, the company has acknowledged the serious implications of battery safety perceptions. Last year, the manufacturer introduced new batteries featuring thermal resistant technology designed to prevent combustion incidents. This innovation involves injecting epoxy resin into battery cells to prevent the chemical reactions that can lead to thermal runaway, a dangerous condition where batteries rapidly overheat and potentially explode.

The company has implemented additional safety measures, including transitioning from 18,650 battery cells to larger 21,700 cells and pursuing UL safety certification for both bicycles and batteries. Rad Power Bikes’ director of brand marketing and communications, Kelsey Wolf, stated the company “strongly disagrees” with the CPSC’s characterization of their batteries as defective or unsafe. Independent testing has confirmed the batteries meet industry safety standards, findings that the CPSC hasn’t disputed.

Wolf emphasized that the incident rate represents “a fraction of one percent” of batteries in use, while acknowledging that “even one incident is one too many.” She expressed the company’s commitment to addressing regulatory concerns while noting that proposed solutions, including discounted upgrades to newer thermal resistant batteries, were rejected by the CPSC. Wolf warned that complying with the agency’s “all-or-nothing” demands would force immediate business closure, eliminating the company’s ability to support either customers or employees.

(Source: The Verge)