RAD Power Bikes Now Faces a Wrongful Death Lawsuit

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against RAD Power Bikes in Alabama on April 28. The company previously received a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about hazardous batteries that can unexpectedly ignite and explode, especially when exposed to water and debris. The warning involved multiple RAD battery models used across several e-bikes. A recall was expected, but RAD did not comply with the CPSC recall request, citing the scale of a potential recall of more than 100,000 batteries. RAD later confirmed rumors of layoffs and factory closures by filing for bankruptcy. RAD also disputed the CPSC characterization, stating that 31 incidents occurred among 100,000+ batteries sold, and that it strongly disagreed with the batteries being labeled defective or unsafe.

"On April 28, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed against RAD in the Alabama court system. Recent issues with RAD stretch back to November of last year, when the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning concerning batteries. The CPSC report read that RAD's "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.""

"This is where we'd typically see a recall issued. However, RAD did not comply with the CPSC's recall. Simply put, recalling over 100,000 batteries would surely put the brand out of business. RAD was already struggling amid rumors of layoffs and factory closures. Weeks after we covered the un-recall recall, RAD confirmed the rumors when they filed for bankruptcy."

"But RAD stood by their batteries. In an update following the news of the recall, they noted that the "reported 31 incidents are from 100,000+ batteries, a fraction of a percent of total batteries sold." They would go on to say: "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.""

"The Recall issued by the CPSC acknowledged the 31 incidents. " CPSC is aware of 31 reports of fire, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500. Some of thes"

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