Tag: e-bike fires

Bicycle Retailer And Industry News Blames The Fake News On E-Bike Fires

jimmymac

There are many ways the bicycle industry can and should address the issue of e-bike fires. Some are very productive and responsible. The recently announced webinar series sponsored by the National Bicycle Dealers Association is a step in the right direction. The information available from Human Powered Solutions is intended for bicycle retailers but their tips and directions work just as well for e-bike owners. Third-party certification is my favorite answer to the problem. The recently published article in Bicycle Retailer and Industry News (BRAIN), written by the “staff,” is…

National Bicycle Dealers Association To Address E-Bike Fire Risks In Webinar Series UPDATED

jimmymac

The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) just announced four webinars dealing with e-bike fire potential. The series will be aimed at retailers but I would imagine that any e-bike owner could benefit from the disseminated information. The first webinar took place on May 24th and addressed e-bike explosions, fire safety and product third-party certification. Comments from a New York City Fire Department official were very enlightening as were all the topics covered by the panel members. You can watch this webinar by clicking here. The second webinar takes place on…

Recall: Santa Cruz Heckler 9 E-Bike Dropping Its Battery Like A Bomb

jimmymac

Santa Cruz Bicycles has recalled their Heckler 9 e-bike after customers report of the battery falling out of the bike’s frame, creating both fall and fire hazards. Santa Cruz explains that, “The latch mechanism that holds the battery in place can malfunction, causing the battery to dislodge from the frame and fall to the ground, posing a fall hazard to the rider.  Additionally, the latch spring can cause additional wear on the battery housing over time, posing a fire hazard.” Riders should stop riding the recalled bicycle and should remove…

A List Of “Rare” E-Bike And E-Bike Battery Charging Fires – UPDATED

jimmymac

The e-bike industry and its trade organizations are often quoted as saying e-bike fires are “a rare occurrence” (if they comment on the issue at all). These organizations are more apt to use the sanitized phrase “a runaway thermal event” that is code for “the bike’s battery blew up in flames.” The list of e-bike factories, retailers and owners who have experienced meltdowns is indeed a small percentage of total e-bike factories, retailers and owners. That shouldn’t make you feel a lot better if you have an e-bike charging in…

Totem USA’s Zen Rider E-Bike Powered By Panasonic Earns UL 2849 Approval

jimmymac

Totem USA is introducing a new 2022 e-bike model dubbed the Zen Rider. The Panasonic-powered Zen Rider separates itself from its competition by applying for and passing the Underwriters Laboratory UL 2849 certification. This is a major commitment from Totem to their customers who want the assurance that the e-bikes in their home do not pose an extreme fire threat or have an inherent design issue that could make operation dangerous. Buying an e-bike is a confusing and complicated dilemma due to the sheer number of available options (my last…

Top Stories Of 2021 From Jimmy Mac On Two Wheels

jimmymac

Calculating the top (most-clicked-on) stories of 2021 is fraught with technical difficulties. Stories posted early in the year have a marked advantage over a story posted in December. Stories that are “Updates” include tag-along readers from the original story (so I haven’t counted them unless the original story appeared in 2021). Finally, web browsers are getting mighty stingy revealing clicks (and I’m fine with that because I don’t monetize or track my readers) so I could have a story with way more eyeballs on it than I’ll ever know. Even…

Reevo Hubless E-Bike Earns UL 2849 Certification

jimmymac

Beno, the company developing the Reevo hubless e-bike, announced in their November 4th update on Indiegogo that their e-bike will meet the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) 2849 standard for e-bikes. This is a major benefit and value added for people who have already backed the bike (the Reevo is offered on crowdfunding site, Indiegogo) or plan to buy one once production begins. I find it impressive that a start-up e-bike company sees the value of third-party testing. This investment sends their backers a clear message that the company is serious about…

Segway-Ninebot Shared E-Bikes Are UL 2849 Certified

jimmymac

I recently posted about the advantages of demanding to see the Underwriters Laboratory label before purchasing your next e-bike. There is encouraging news that Segway Commercial has opted to design and manufacture their Segway-Ninebot shared e-bike to meet UL 2849 certification.  That’s good news for riders and communities who depend on reliable shared e-bikes that meet established electrical and fire safety standards. Kudos to Segway.

Look For The UL Label: Why Your New E-Bike Needs UL Certification – UPDATED

jimmymac

I get downhearted and disgusted posting so many stories about e-bike battery fires. These events include fatalities and loss of personal property into the millions of dollars. Unfortunately, this burden seems to rest on my humble shoulders. I don’t know of anyone else shinning a light on one of the e-bike industry’s most guarded dirty secrets. Ranting about the fire potential lurking in every e-bike is frustrating because I don’t see a viable solution to the problem. I pass along tips for reducing the chances of an e-bike battery fire…

E-Bikes Add Speed To San Luis Obispo’s Emergency Response Squad

jimmymac

This is cool news out of the San Luis Obispo Fire Department. In an effort to improve rescue response times, the SLO fire department has added a secret weapon. E-bikes! “It is amazing how much faster our paramedics can reach patients on our city’s trails,” said Fire Engineer and Paramedic Ryan Mason, who led the department’s new e-bike program development. “What used to take 45 minutes to an hour to reach an injured hiker or mountain biker can now take us less than 10 minutes.” The City’s fire department partnered…