Stop Using Unit Pack Power Lithium-Ion Electric Bike Batteries Due to Safety Risks, CPSC Warns

The federal safety agency cited fire, burn, injury, and death risks in its safety notice

By Benjamin Preston

April 15, 2024

Recalled Unit Pack Power (UPP) E-bike Battery

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a public health and safety notice today warning consumers of the risk of serious injury and death posed by Unit Pack Power lithium-ion e-bike batteries with model number “U004” or “U004-1.”

The notice, which urges consumers to stop using the batteries immediately, comes after 13 complaints of the batteries overheating in the U.S., including reports of seven fires and serious property damage. The batteries have also caused several fires in the United Kingdom, where the government ordered them to be withdrawn from the market.

The batteries are black, triangular, and have “U004 BATTERY” or “UPPBATTERY” printed on the side. They were made in China by Shenzhen Unit Pack Power Technology Co. Ltd. and sold under the brand name “Unit Pack Power” or “UPP” at online retailers, including AliExpress, Amazon, and Walmart, from 2018 through April 2024. The CPSC says that the batteries were not certified to the applicable UL safety standard by an accredited laboratory and that the manufacturer has refused to issue a recall.

“Fires from these batteries can be extremely dangerous and difficult to put out,” says Gabe Knight, a Consumer Reports policy analyst. “If you’ve bought any e-bike battery online in the last six years, check carefully to see if its label reads ‘U004’ or ‘U004-1,’ and if it does, get it out of your home and contact your local trash and recycling department for instructions on proper disposal.”

At the time of publication, the battery was still being sold on the manufacturer’s website and on Amazon, though not in all ZIP codes. (New York City requires e-mobility device batteries to conform to a tough UL standard that isn’t required in most other places in the U.S.) Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on why it is continuing to sell the battery, but the seller rules published on its website show that e-mobility devices sold on the platform should conform to some UL standards.

The fire department in New York City, where lithium-ion battery fires related to e-bikes and e-scooters are a growing problem, offers electric bike safety tips. One of the main tips is to buy e-bikes and batteries that are tested for safety in accordance with UL safety standards.

An investigation by CR found that inadequately tested lithium-ion e-bike batteries were a major contributor to fire danger.

“Today’s urgent warning highlights that there aren’t any federal safety standards for e-bike batteries,” Knight says. “While some manufacturers put safety first and make sure that their batteries are safe, others don’t. That’s unacceptable and should be prohibited by law. Congress should take action now to ensure all manufacturers must meet a strong mandatory standard enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”

The Details

Products covered: Unit Pack Power model U004 and U004-1 e-bike batteries were found by the CPSC to be a fire hazard. Although the company that manufactures the product did not issue a voluntary recall, the CPSC cautions against buying or using these batteries.

The problem: Some units have overheated or caught fire.

The fix: The CPSC advises consumers to immediately stop using the batteries and dispose of them in accordance with state and local law. (Please don’t throw used batteries in the trash!)

How to contact the manufacturer: Unit Pack Power can be reached by phone at +86-13632976537, or by email at rechiexiao@gmail.com or sales@unitpackpower.com.

You can find more information in the CPSC’s release.

Benjamin Preston

Benjamin Preston covered new and used car buying, auto insurance, car maintenance and repair, and electric bikes for Consumer Reports.