All posts tagged: Rad

Rad Power Bikes owners could upgrade their batteries for cheap

Rad Power Bikes owners could upgrade their batteries for cheap

Published by skeptic

It looks like Rad Power Bikes owners may soon have a more affordable path to upgrading to the company’s newer Safe Shield battery technology. In an email just sent out today, Rad Life Mobility announced plans for a program that would allow eligible customers to receive up to 50% off replacement Safe Shield batteries for older Rad e-bikes. Details are still fairly limited for now. The email encourages owners of Rad e-bikes using earlier battery systems to sign up for updates, noting that the company will “be in touch soon to learn a little more about your ride.” The message also includes an important disclaimer: Rad Life Mobility is “an independent company not affiliated with Rad Power Bikes Inc.” Advertisement – scroll for more content That distinction is important because this isn’t the original Rad Power Bikes company that rose to become one of North America’s largest e-bike brands during the industry boom years. Instead, Rad Life Mobility is the new company that acquired Rad’s assets earlier this year after the original business went through …

New Ride1Up ebikes, Juiced & Rad return, more

New Ride1Up ebikes, Juiced & Rad return, more

Published by skeptic

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes new electric bicycles from brands like Ride1Up and Heybike, plus comeback stories from Juiced Bikes and Rad Power Bikes, a look at how the answer to high gas prices might have been parked in the corner of your garage this whole time, and more. The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in. After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps: Advertisement – scroll for more content Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast Pocket Casts Castro RSS We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some awesome gifts for our Patreons …

Life EV officially owns Rad Power Bikes now

Life EV officially owns Rad Power Bikes now

Published by skeptic

Life Electric Vehicles Holdings, also known as Life EV, officially owns the intellectual property, inventory, and certain operating assets of Rad Power Bikes. Life EV acquired Rad Power for $13.2 million. Rad Power Bikes, a buzzy electric bike company that raised nearly $330 million in venture capital, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December. The company had struggled for months prior to its bankruptcy filing, and had warned employees it might have to shut down without new capital. Life EV intends to keep the company intact and said it will continue retail operations under the Rad Power Bikes brand in the United States. It also plans to expand the retail footprint in select key markets. Life EV also pledged to support existing customers who might be wondering what would become of their bike warranties or even gift cards. The Florida-based Life EV has built its business by acquiring, developing, and scaling electric bicycle and micro-mobility brands. While Rad Power is perhaps its highest profile purchase, the company also holds an equity interest in LEV …

Rad Power Bikes owners could upgrade their batteries for cheap

Rad Power Bikes sale completed, new owner to build e-bikes in the US

Published by skeptic

Rad Power Bikes, once the dominant force in North America’s direct-to-consumer e-bike boom, has officially found a new home. Life Electric Vehicles Holdings (Life EV) announced this week that it has completed a court-approved acquisition of Rad Power Bikes’ brand, intellectual property, inventory, and certain operating assets. The move positions Life EV as the new owner of one of the most recognizable names in the e-bike industry. The company says it plans to continue operating under the Rad Power Bikes brand in the United States while expanding retail operations in select markets. For longtime Rad riders, one immediate question will be what happens to existing customer commitments. Life EV says it intends to support Rad customers by honoring certain warranties and gift cards in accordance with the terms of the asset purchase agreement, though details are not clear at this time regarding which prior commitments will be honored. Rad Power Bikes played a major role in shaping the modern North American e-bike market in the pre-pandemic years, quickly becoming the largest e-bike company in the …

New Ride1Up ebikes, Juiced & Rad return, more

Wheel-E Podcast: Rad got bought, NJ hates e-bikes, fake UL lawsuit, more

Published by skeptic

This week on Electrek’s Wheel-E podcast, we discuss the most popular news stories from the world of electric bikes and other nontraditional electric vehicles. This time, that includes a range of stories from new e-bike laws in New Jersey and Amsterdam, Rad Power Bikes getting bought out of bankruptcy, the clever way that e-bike batteries can be used for extra power during storms or even power a food truck, Honda’s new 50 MPH electric scooter, and more. The Wheel-E podcast returns every two weeks on Electrek’s YouTube channel, Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter. As a reminder, we’ll have an accompanying post, like this one, on the site with an embedded link to the live stream. Head to the YouTube channel to get your questions and comments in. After the show ends, the video will be archived on YouTube and the audio on all your favorite podcast apps: Advertisement – scroll for more content Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast Pocket Casts Castro RSS We also have a Patreon if you want to help us to avoid more ads and invest more in our content. We have some …

Fire reported at building containing Rad Power Bikes store location

Fire reported at building containing Rad Power Bikes store location

Published by skeptic

In yet another unfortunate setback for Rad Power Bikes, a structure fire has been reported at the company’s Huntington Beach retail store. Rad Power Bikes once held the position as the top-selling electric bike retailer in the US, but has been struggling for some time and recently declared bankruptcy while it works to keep the company afloat. Various reports have pointed to a fire in a complex that houses multiple businesses along the Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach, California, including a Rad Power Bikes retail store and an Equinox gym. A Huntington Beach Fire Department log entry indicates a 2-alarm structure fire was called in shortly after 7:00 PM local time at an address matching that of the complex containing Rad’s store and warehouse. Photos and video from the scene shot by citizen journalists show a large number of fire engines responding to the scene. Multiple e-bikes can be seen being rolled out of the warehouse behind the retail store, and other e-bikes can be seen laying on the ground in front of the …

CPSC warns Rad Power Bikes owners of specific battery fire risks

CPSC warns Rad Power Bikes owners of specific battery fire risks

Published by skeptic

In an unprecedented move, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a public safety warning urging owners of certain Rad Power Bikes e-bike batteries to immediately stop using them, citing a risk of fire, explosion, and potentially serious injury or death. The warning, published today, targets Rad’s lithium-ion battery models RP-1304 and HL-RP-S1304, which were sold with some of the company’s most popular e-bikes, including the RadWagon 4, RadRunner 1 and 2, RadRunner Plus, RadExpand 5, RadRover 5 series, and RadCity 3 and 4 models. Replacement batteries sold separately are also included. According to the CPSC, the batteries “can unexpectedly ignite and explode,” particularly when exposed to water or debris. The agency says it has documented 31 fires linked to the batteries so far, including 12 incidents of property damage totaling over $734,000. Alarmingly, several fires occurred when the battery wasn’t charging or when the bike wasn’t even in use. Complicating the situation further, Rad Power Bikes – already facing significant financial turmoil – has “refused to agree to an acceptable recall,” according …