CPSC issues safety warning for Rad Power batteries, beleaguered company refuses to issue a recall or offer refunds

Photo of an affected battery label, from the CPSC.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC") has issued a product safety warning" urging anyone with a Rad Power Bikes battery model HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304 to immediately cease using it and take it to a household hazardous waste collection center (here's a list of Seattle-area locations).

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," according to the CPSC warning (posted in full below). CPSC is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage."

For Rad owners in the company's hometown of Seattle, the warning about these e-bike batteries being exposed to water" is particularly concerning.

The batteries were sold with 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. They were also sold as replacement batteries. UPDATE: A Rad spokesperson told The New York Times they sold 100,000-plus" of the affected batteries.

The company's currently-available model of battery, branded as Safe Shield" models, are not part of the recall.

In a rare move, Rad has refused to issue a recall or offer refunds to owners. Instead, the beleaguered company that may be weeks from closing is openly disagreeing with the CPSC's determination.

Rad Power Bikes firmly stands behind our batteries," the company said in a prepared statement sent to Seattle Bike Blog (posted in full below). Reputable, independent third-party labs tested Rad's batteries, both as part of our typical product testing and again during the CPSC investigation, and confirmed compliance with the highest industry standards."

They claim that the incident rate is a fraction of one percent," and that contrary to the CPSC's statement, mere exposure to water and debris does not create a hazard; rather, significant water exposure, as warned against in our manuals, can pose a hazard."

Rad is putting the onus on its customers to try to parse the difference between exposure to water" and significant water exposure." If this makes you uncomfortable as a Rad owner in Seattle, you're not alone. A lot of people have been expressing confusion, anger and dismay via social media since the CPSC warning was released earlier today.

I cannot think of another instance in which a bicycle company fought a CPSC safety warning (let us know in the comments below if you are aware of one). But Seattle Bike Blog encourages readers to take the CPSC warning seriously. Check your battery's model for HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304. Only exactly those models are part of the warning, so if yours is similar but not exact then you should be OK.

Rad's replies both at the bottom of the CPSC warning and in their longer prepared statement also point to another motive for fighting the CPSC: Staying in business. Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders," the company wrote in their comments included at the end of the CPSC warning.

Your household's health and safety is more important than Rad Power's desire to stay in business.

Rad is currently selling their newer model Safe Shield" batteries at a discount for a limited time" and while supplies last." For an affected RadWagon 4, for example, a replacement battery is between $300 and $450 on sale depending on capacity. Rad batteries are a proprietary design, and though there are other companies that sell battery packs marketed as replacements it is notoriously difficult for consumers to tell a reputable battery maker from one that might be cutting corners or faking certifications. This non-recall will put a lot of Rad owners in a difficult position.

Rad Power Bikes was among the top-selling e-bike companies in the U.S. for many years. Rad customers need and deserve a clear resolution. Even if Rad disagrees, asking their customers to keep using batteries that the CPSC says could explode is simply not acceptable.

Text of the CPSC warning

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers to immediately stop using lithium-ion batteries for Rad Power Bikes e-bikes, model numbers RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304, because the batteries pose a risk of serious injury and death.

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. CPSC is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage.

CPSC urges consumers to immediately remove the battery from the e-bike and dispose of the battery following local hazardous waste disposal procedures. Do not sell or give away these hazardous batteries.

The importer, Rad Power Bikes Inc., of Seattle, Washington 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.

The batteries were sold with the following Rad Power Bikes e-bike models and as replacement batteries: 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. The battery model number (HL-RP-S1304 or RP-1304) is printed on a label on the back or rear of the battery. The batteries were sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy stores and independent bike shops nationwide for about $550 (replacement batteries) or between $1,500 and $2,000 (when sold with e-bikes).

The batteries were manufactured in China.

CPSC is issuing this public health and safety finding to expedite public warning about this product because individuals may be in danger from this product hazard.

Note:Do not throw this lithium-ion battery or device in the trash, the general recycling stream (e.g., street-level or curbside recycling bins) or used battery recycling boxes found at various retail and home improvement stores. Hazardous lithium-ion batteries must be disposed of differently than other batteries because they present a greater risk of fire. Your municipal household hazardous waste (HHW) collection center may accept this lithium-ion battery or device for disposal. Before taking your battery or device to a HHW collection center, contact it ahead of time and ask whether it accepts hazardous lithium-ion batteries. If it does not, contact your municipality for further guidance.

Upon the request of Rad Power Bikes, Inc., CPSC is including with this warning the comments of Rad Power Bikes Inc., to the extent permitted by and subject to the requirements of Section 6(b)(1) of the CPSA:

Rad's Safe Shield batteries and semi-integrated batteries are not subject to the agency's statement. Rad had the batteries re-tested by third-party labs as part of this investigation; the batteries passed these tests again. Nonetheless, in an effort to partner with the CPSC, Rad proposed multiple solutions to the agency in good faith. Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders. Rad is disappointed that it could not reach a resolution that best serves our riders and the industry at large. Rad reminds its customers to inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion, and to contact Rad so we can support our riders."

Incidents/Injuries: CPSC is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage.

Sold At: The batteries were sold on RadPowerBikes.com and at Best Buy stores and independent bike shops nationwide for about $550 (replacement batteries) or between $1,500 and $2,000 (when sold with e-bikes).

Manufactured In: China

Product Safety Warning Number: 26-118

Text of Rad Power Bikes' prepared statement

Rad Power Bikes firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the ebike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC's characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe.

We have a long and well-documented track record of building safe, reliable ebikes equipped with batteries that meet or exceed rigorous international safety standards, including UL-2271 and UL-2849. The CPSC proposed requiring these UL standards in January 2025, but has yet to adopt them. Rad ebikes have met these standards for years.

Reputable, independent third-party labs tested Rad's batteries, both as part of our typical product testing and again during the CPSC investigation, and confirmed compliance with the highest industry standards. Our understanding is that the CPSC does not dispute the conclusions of these tests. It is also our understanding that the battery itself was not independently examined per industry-accepted test standards.

Context Matters

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.

It is also widely understood that all lithium-ion batteries-whether in ebikes, e-scooters, laptops, or power tools-can pose a fire risk if damaged, improperly charged, exposed to excess moisture, subjected to extreme temperatures or improper modifications to the electrical components, all of which Rad repeatedly advises against in user manuals and customer safety guides. Contrary to the CPSC's statement, mere exposure to water and debris does not create a hazard; rather, significant water exposure, as warned against in our manuals, can pose a hazard.

These risks apply across industries and exist even in products that are fully UL compliant. Ebike batteries are significantly more powerful than household device batteries, which is why proper care and maintenance are so important and why Rad continues to invest in rider education and safety innovation.

Rad's Cooperation with the CPSC

Rad hoped this process would be an opportunity to work with the agency and others in the industry to improve rider education and offer clearer, more consistent safety guidance on how to use and store ebikes and their batteries safely.

Rad offered multiple good-faith solutions to address the agency's concerns, including offering consumers an opportunity to upgrade to Safe Shield batteries (described below) at a substantial discount. CPSC rejected this opportunity. The significant cost of the all-or-nothing demand would force Rad to shut its doors immediately, leaving no way to support our riders or our employees.

A Commitment to Safety and Innovation

Rad has been a pioneer in promoting and advancing energy-efficient transportation, and our efforts to innovate and build safer, better batteries led to the development of the Rad Safe Shield battery. However, a product that incorporates new, safer, and better technology does not thereby mean that preceding products are not safe or defective. For example, when anti-lock brakes were developed, that did not render earlier cars unsafe; it simply meant a better, safer technology was available to consumers.

That kind of thinking discourages innovation and limits the accessibility that ebikes bring to millions of people. Without the adoption of clear, common-sense standards, no electric bike manufacturer can operate with confidence.