While battery “experts” and e-bike retailers continue to deflect blame of e-bike battery fires to low-quality batteries imported from China, another recall clearly contradicts their assertions. The latest recall is from Santa Cruz Bicycles, hardly a company associated with using poor manufacturing processes or materials. Just the opposite. Santa Cruz is known as a prestige brand founded on delivering bikes with high-quality components.
We applaud Santa Cruz’s efforts to make it right with their customers (you can read the recall details by clicking here). At the same time, the recall shoots a hole in any assertions that battery fires are somehow limited to cheap batteries.
Our family is now up to three e-bikes and none of them came cheap. Still, we follow the following common sense tips to reduce the chance of a fire catastrophe due to an e-bike battery. You should too.
OUR TIPS FOR CHARGING AND USING E-BIKE BATTERIES
1. Always charge your bike’s battery outside of your home, apartment, garage or storage shed.
2. Never leave a battery charging unattended. Day or night.
3. Don’t leave batteries on a charger once they are charged.
4. Never charge a battery in a confined space like a motorhome, RV, boat, automobile, van or shed.
5. Never charge a battery that has been dropped, damaged or dinged.
6. Never charge a battery in a hallway entry/exit.
7. Never modify a battery.
8. Use only batteries recommended and approved by your bike’s manufacturer. Same with the battery charger.
9. If your e-bike makes a weird noise, feels hot, emits smoke or seems to be straining, stop riding. Do not load it in a car or put in the garage. Call 911. Any of these warning signs could mean a fire is eminent.
11. Look for the UL 2849 certified sticker on your next e-bike purchase.