SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Electrical shock / short

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20220701-09991-2147355294. Severity: Incident, No Injury. Product: RadPower RadRover 6 RadRover 6 Step-thru (RadPower Bikes RadRover 6 Model). Incident: Manufacturer: RadPower Bikes, a US-based electrical bicycle maker Model: 2022 RadRover 6 Step-thru ebike Product at fault: 48 volt removable battery Problem: battery short circuit Cause: user can inadvertently cross the 48 volt contacts of the charging port with a metallic object Situation: the battery is secured within the bike frame with a lock. To remove the battery, a key is used to unlock the latch mechanism which is less than three inches from the charging port. The charging port has a rubber-like flap to weatherproof it but it is still possible to touch both port contacts with the key or any tool or metal object causing a short. Doing so results, in an alarming and loud spark that is a safety hazard. This also renders the battery unusable. At nearly 80 pounds, the bike is difficult to pedal and use without battery assistance, which is the point of ownership - assisting the user with battery power. The battery retails for $600 on the RadPower website, https://www.radpowerbikes.com/collections/replacement-parts/products/rad-semi-integrated-battery-pack. Questions: Why isn't this circuit better protected, perhaps with a quick acting fuse and reset button? Why is the charge port so close to the lock? Why isn't the charge port on the opposite side of the battery to prevent this from happening? Why isn't the charge port's contacts more deeply recessed to lessen the chance of crossing the circuit? Could the prongs on a woman's ring or other piece of jewelry cause a short to occur? Could a child mimicking a parent connecting the charger to the bike cause the same occurrence?