In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a public safety warning, urging owners of certain Rad Power Bikes electric bicycle batteries to immediately stop using them, citing a risk of fire, explosion and possible serious injury or death.
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The warning targets Rad's RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304 lithium-ion battery models , which were sold with some of the company's most popular electric bikes, including the RadWagon 4, RadRunner 1 and 2, RadRunner Plus, RadExpand 5, RadRover 5 series, and RadCity 3 and 4. Replaceable batteries that were sold separately are also included.
According to the CPSC, the batteries “can ignite and explode unexpectedly,” especially when exposed to water or debris. The agency says it has recorded 31 fires linked to the batteries so far, including 12 incidents with property damage totaling more than $734,000. Worryingly, several of the fires occurred when the battery was not charging or when the bike was not even in use.
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Further complicating the situation, Rad Power Bikes — which is already facing significant financial difficulties — “refused to agree to an acceptable recall,” according to the CPSC. The company reportedly told regulators it could not afford to replace or return the large number of affected batteries. Rad had previously informed employees that it could be forced to close permanently in January if it could not secure new financing, just two weeks before the CPSC issued this safety notice.
For its part, Rad reacted strongly to the CPSC's description. A Rad Power Bikes spokesperson explained in a statement that the company "stands by our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the electric bike industry and strongly disagrees with the CPSC's description of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe."
Lithium-ion battery fires have become a growing concern in the US and internationally, with poorly made packaging implicated in a growing number of fatal incidents.
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While Rad Power Bikes states that no injuries or deaths have been linked to these specific models, the federal warning is one of the most serious advisories for electric bike batteries issued to date.
