VIVI e-bikes, a budget-friendly model generally discovered on Amazon and Walmart, simply obtained hit with a serious recall affecting round 24,000 electrical bicycles on account of fireplace dangers. The US Client Product Security Fee (CPSC) introduced that the lithium-ion batteries included with VIVI e-bikes can overheat, catch fireplace, and doubtlessly trigger damage or demise.
In line with the recall discover, VIVI has obtained at the least 14 reviews of their e-bike batteries overheating, with at the least three reviews of the batteries catching fireplace, although fortuitously no accidents had been reported within the recall discover.
The defective batteries had been shipped with a variety of VIVI electrical bikes offered between December 2020 and November 2023, priced between $365 and $950.
That places them among the many least expensive full-size e-bikes available on the market.
The affected bikes embody lengthy checklist of VIVI fashions, with the entire discovered right here and seen within the desk beneath.
The e-bikes had been mostly obtainable on-line via Walmart.com and Amazon.com, however had been additionally offered on eBay.com, Want.com, Sears.com, Wayfair.com, Aliexpress.com, and the corporate’s personal website (viviebikes.com).
Riders who bought a VIVI e-bike are inspired to test their mannequin instantly to see if it matches the checklist of recalled e-bikes or battery packs.
The issue stems from the lithium-ion battery packs, which weren’t licensed to UL requirements, that are the commonest security requirements for e-bikes within the US.
Customers are being instructed to cease utilizing the bikes instantly and call VIVI for a free alternative battery. In line with the recall discover, “Customers ought to instantly cease utilizing e-bikes with the recalled lithium-ion batteries and call VIVI to obtain a free alternative battery and battery charger. Customers should get rid of the recalled battery at a family hazardous waste (HHW) assortment middle or observe the directions of their municipality and ensure that this was completed by sending an e mail to vivirecall@163.com.”
This recall provides to rising issues in regards to the security of low-cost e-bikes flooding on-line marketplaces. Whereas affordability has helped e-bikes grow to be extra accessible, it’s additionally opened the door to corners being minimize, notably with regards to the batteries, that are arguably essentially the most harmful part of any electrical automobile when poorly made.
However, the rise in UL certification within the US e-bike business has led to greater shopper confidence amongst revered e-bike manufacturers that prominently show their security certifications. This apply has helped assuage shoppers’ fears and serves as a reminder of why these security certifications are so necessary.
Electrek’s Take
Right here we go once more – one other Amazon e-bike model that was promoting what appears like a too-good-to-be-true electrical bike with a questionable battery. And shock: it catches fireplace.
Now I wish to be certain we maintain this in perspective right here, as a result of the story isn’t that e-bikes are harmful. Even amongst these ultra-super-duper-extremely low-cost e-bikes, there have been 14 overheating circumstances and three reported fires out of 24,000 e-bikes offered. So it’s not like batteries are cooking off left and proper like meth labs in Arkansas right here or one thing. However that is nonetheless a stark reminder of the dangers of buying bargain-basement electrical bikes. Actually, simply a few weeks in the past, I wrote a chunk in regards to the hidden dangers of the most affordable e-bikes, and this situation was entrance and middle.
On this case, these VIVI e-bikes are simply a number of the many aggressively priced fashions on Amazon, and that’s all the time a purple flag with regards to lithium-ion security. At Electrek, we’ve mentioned it earlier than and we’ll maintain saying it: low-cost batteries are dangerous batteries. UL certification isn’t legally required in most locations (but), but when an organization isn’t prepared to spend money on essentially the most primary security testing, it ought to increase alarm bells.
If you happen to’re looking for a finances e-bike, follow manufacturers that at the least use name-brand cells (like Samsung, LG, or Panasonic) and ideally have UL certification. In any other case, you’re not simply playing with efficiency, you’re playing together with your storage, your private home, your condominium constructing, and doubtlessly the lives of your loved ones and neighbors.
