Thousands of inexpensive e-bikes recalled for shocking reason

Product recalls happen so often that they can be difficult to keep track of. Between contaminated food, faulty household appliances, and cars, it seems like there is a new recall every day.

When enough consumers report a problem, or a company realizes one of its products is faulty, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) will step in and announce a recall.

Sometimes the problem is a nuisance, but sometimes the recall happens because the product is downright dangerous, potentially deadly even.

That’s the case with the CPSC’s latest recall, which is related to bargain-priced e-bikes.

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E-bikes have become popular around the world because they are fun to ride and have zero emissions. Over the past couple of years, they have also become much more affordable.

When they first came out, an e-bike could cost as much as $5,000, but now you can find them for a fraction of that. And that is part of the problem: The less expensive bikes are more likely to miss essential safety standards.

E-bikes are popular but some models pose a fire risk and have been recalled. 

Image source: Taris Grebinets/Shutterstock

Cheap e-bikes recalled due to fire risk

The CPSC announced a recall of approximately 24,000 lithium-ion batteries used in VIVI brand electric bikes.

The bikes were sold on Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Wayfair, AliExpress and www.viviebikes.com between December 2020 and November 2023.

The e-bikes, priced from $365-$950, were very popular due to their price, but the CPSC says it has received more than a dozen reports of the lithium-ion powered bikes overheating, including three that caught fire. 

No injuries have been reported yet.

This high-profile recall, announced on July 17, highlights the risks tied to uncertified, low-budget e‑bike batteries.

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Many low-cost brands, including VIVI, bypass UL certification — a voluntary safety standard not federally mandated — which can lead to dangerous shortcuts in battery manufacturing. This gap stems from a “de minimis” import threshold of $800, which lets vendors avoid duties and safety inspections by keeping prices below the limit, according to a report on The Verge.

The reporter also asserts the U.S. is unlikely to set a federal safety standard under President Donald Trump, which means there could be additional similar recalls.

The recalled batteries are the 36-volt lithium-ion units that came bundled in several VIVI models:

• C26

• MT20

• Z3

• M026SH

• H6

• H7

• 26LGB

• M026TGB

• MT26G

• FM20

• F20

• S3

• Z1

• Z2

The identifying labels are affixed to the bike frame or the battery casing.

What to do if you have a recalled e-bike

VIVI is urging owners to immediately stop using the affected batteries, contact the company for free replacement batteries and chargers, and dispose of the recalled units at household hazardous waste facilities.

It is never safe to dispose of a lithium-ion battery in a regular trash can or recycling bin.

Consumers can confirm affected battery serial numbers and take action by calling VIVI’s toll-free number at 800-375-6103 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, or online at https://viviebikes.com/pages/recall or https://viviebikes.com and click on “Important Recall Information” for more information.

If you own a VIVI e‑bike purchased during the stated timeframe, stop using it now and arrange a replacement.

If you plan to purchase an e-bike, it is safer to choose one with a UL-certified battery.

Until federal safety measures are in place, strong certifications remain the best defense against fire hazards.

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