Rad Opposes CPSC Battery Warning, Aventon Plans European Debut, New Upway/Aventon Trade-In Program | TWR Ep 59

The CPSC has issued a public warning advising consumers to immediately stop using certain Rad Power Bikes battery packs, citing what the agency describes as a fire hazard and a risk of serious injury or death. In its notice, the CPSC states that it is aware of at least 31 incidents involving fires associated with these batteries, including 12 reports of property damage totaling approximately $734,500.

However, as far as we can tell, the CPSC has not reported any injuries resulting from those 31 alleged incidents, and the agency did not provide additional information such as dates, locations, affected models, or incident summaries. We have also not been able to find any public record that substantiates or details the incidents referenced in the warning.

Our understanding is that it is relatively uncommon for the CPSC to issue a consumer warning of this nature without releasing supporting documentation or descriptions of the reported incidents.

Rad Power Bikes responded with a public statement strongly disagreeing with the CPSC’s characterization of its batteries. In Rad’s words, “Rad Power Bikes firmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the ebike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe.”

The company also emphasized that its batteries have been tested by third-party labs and that they meet or exceed international safety standards, including UL-2271 and UL-2849.

Rad stated, “Reputable, independent third-party labs tested Rad’s batteries, both as part of our typical product testing and again during the CPSC investigation, and confirmed compliance with the highest industry standards.”

Additionally, Rad stated that it attempted to work with the CPSC and proposed multiple solutions, including offering owners discounted upgrades to its newer Safe Shield battery design, but claims that CPSC rejected those proposals.

Finally, Rad argued that introducing improved battery technology does not mean that earlier products were unsafe—comparing the evolution to advancements like anti-lock brakes in cars—and said that without clear adopted standards across the industry, manufacturers cannot operate with certainty.

At this time, the CPSC warning is not a recall, and Rad continues to dispute the agency’s findings.

Our Take:
We will continue monitoring this story as more information becomes available, particularly any additional detail regarding the 31 incidents referenced by the CPSC, should that information be released. We also want to make it very clear that the warning does not apply to any of Rad’s current products.

According to a blog post from Aventon, the company plans to enter Europe via Germany in Spring 2026. The brand plans to introduce a range of new e-bikes to meet EU-specific regulations (250W motors, 15.5 mph/25 kph maximum speeds).

In the company’s post, it states, “The launch includes a dedicated European Consumer Website, new local dealer partnerships, and a wide range of ebike categories built for European terrain, daily city commuting, and weekend exploration.”

Additionally, the company’s founder, Jianwei Zhang, said, “Germany is not only the heart of European cycling culture but also one of the most sophisticated and mature ebike markets globally. We are not coming to Germany just to be another brand. We are bringing innovation, future-forward production processes, simple accessibility, and our passion for the product. In early 2025, we began building a dedicated team in Munich that combines global experience with local expertise to exceed the expectations of German customers from day one.”

For those interested, Aventon’s German website is up and running. At this point in time, its information is limited to some details about the company’s history and technology. You can register by adding your email address on the website to stay up to date with future developments.

Based on the information available on the website, it appears that the EU bikes will feature the brand’s ACU module featured on its latest line of e-bikes for the US market. Along with this technology, the bikes will feature integrated wheel/battery locks, GPS tracking, OTA updates, etc. Some models may offer automatic shifting such as that found on the Aventon Aventure M.

The website also provides some details about a new custom motor at least some of the bikes will use. This 250W drive unit, dubbed the Ultro, offers 115 Nm of torque, 850W of peak power, and IP67 water resistance.

Our Take:
We’re thrilled to see Aventon venturing into a new market! Historically, we’ve received many questions and comments from EU interested riders who were dismayed to learn that the brand’s bikes were unavailable. As such, we expect that the launch of these products will be met with celebration.

Aventon’s new Ultro mid-drive is also extremely intriguing; on paper, it’s more powerful than the custom motor found on the Ramblas eMTB. Whether we’ll have the opportunity to test the EU bikes remains to be seen, but considering Aventon’s excellent track record, we’d welcome the opportunity to hop in the saddle.

The fruit of the partnership between Upway and Aventon is titled the Aventon Re-Frame Program. This program allows riders to trade in their current e-bike at 165 of Aventon’s Signature Dealers. They’ll get an instant valuation through Upway’s pricing tool, and if terms are agreed to, owners will get credit that can immediately be put toward new Aventon models.
Those interested in trading in a bike during the launch campaign, which runs from Nov 17-Dec 24, will receive a $200 bonus in credit.

The program is designed to stimulate sales at Aventon’s dealers, but it also reinforces Upway’s circular consumption model by giving riders access to high-quality refurbished e-bikes.

According to a BRAIN article, Aventon’s Global Brand Director, Malte Homeyer, said, “We are excited to announce the Aventon Re-Frame Powered by Upway to make premium ebikes more accessible than ever.This program ensures more riders can experience Aventon’s design and performance, while giving our bikes a second life. This is a win for the environment, a win for our customers looking to upgrade, and a significant win for our Signature Dealers.”

Signature Dealers make up only about 10% of Aventon’s 1,800+ locations, so be sure to check Aventon’s “Find a Bike Shop” tool on their website to see locations where the trade-in program will operate.

Our Take:
This program seems like a win-win for everyone involved. It allows current owners of older e-bikes to upgrade and access Aventon’s new, high-tech, and extremely secure ACU-equipped models. Of course, it also boosts sales to stimulate growth and keep Aventon’s dealers in business.

Finally, it expands Upway’s catalog of used e-bikes. This gives buyers who might not be able to afford a new product access to used e-bikes that have undergone a thorough inspection and tune-up process.

We’ve been highly and consistently impressed with Aventon’s newest e-bikes, which include models of most styles. If you’re curious about the company’s products and you’d like to learn more about them, check out our detailed Aventon electric bike reviews, which include unbiased performance data and our reviewers’ personal thoughts.

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• Why do we still recommend Rad Power e-bikes if the company could go out of business?
• Why is our new reporting limited to brief analysis?