Recall confusion over blazing batteries as Rad Power woes collide with CPSC

Rad Power Bikes, one of the larger names in North America for e-bikes and e-cargo bikes, is having a rough fall. After early reports of financial difficulty, the Seattle, Wash.-based brand is now running afoul of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

On Nov. 24, CPSC issued a warning to immediately stop using certain batteries made for and sold by Rad Power Bikes. The brand is refuting the CPSC’s warnings, but also arguing that it is not financially capable of complying with a recall. With Rad Power arguing both that the batteries are safe and that it can’t afford to recall them, if they weren’t, consumers are left wondering whether to trust CPSC or the bike brand itself.

And, since Rad Power isn’t voluntarily issuing a recall, consumers are also left out of pocket to replace any potentially faulty batteries.

So far, this stop-use warning only applies in the United States. Health Canada has not yet issued its own warning.

The warning does not apply to newer Safe Shield batteries sold by Rad Power

Battery fires at issue

The concern at issue is not minor. CPSC warns of potential for the battery to spontaniously catch fire. Specifically, “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 agency is basing its stop-use warning off of 31 reported fires caused by the batteries. These included 12 reports of property damage totalling approximately $734,500 (USD).

Worryingly, for anyone with a Rad Power Bike in their shed hoping to wait this one out, CPSC says “Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage.”

How many spontaneous fires is too many spontaneous fires?

CPSC notes that Rad Power “has refused to agree to an acceptable recall. Given its financial situation, Rad Power Bikes has indicated to CPSC that it is unable to offer replacement batteries or refunds to all consumers.”

A statement on its own website, Rad Power argues “The incident rate associated with the batteries in the CPSC’s notice is a fraction of one percent. While that number is low, we know even one incident is one too many, and we are heartbroken by any report involving our products.” To the New York Times, a spokesperson for the brand was more specific, saying the 31 fires were out of over 100,000 battery sales.

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