The US federal governments consumer watchdog has issued a recall for about 24,000 batteries sold with cheap VIVI e-bikes at retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and AliExpress for prices between $365 and $950. At least 14 incidents of overheating batteries have been reported, with three reported fires. No injuries have been reported, but owners are urged to stop using the e-bikes immediately because the lithium-ion batteries pose a risk of serious injury or death.
The VIVI e-bikes and batteries in question models listed here were likely not certified to UL safety standards. Thats not stated in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, but its a near universal truth for budget brands selling e-bikes at rock-bottom prices. Certification costs money and is entirely voluntary outside of New York City. VIVI also seems to have started appending a UL to the end of its UL-certified model names.
Owners affected by the recall can contact VIVI to receive a free replacement charger and battery, though its unclear if the new battery will be UL certified. The recalled batteries were sold with e-bikes between December 2020 and November 2023.
Certification costs money and is entirely voluntary
The recall deals yet another blow to the reputation of electric bikes in the US, where a preponderance of e-bike incidents occur despite their minuscule share of the global market. In the EU, e-bikes are viewed as safe, reliable, healthy, and space-saving alternatives to automobiles and public transportation thanks largely to strict regulations. The VIVI recall is unlikely to be the last while federal lawmakers in the US continue to ignore e-bike safety.
