The US federal government’s 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. That’s not stated in the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, but it’s 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 it’s unclear if the new battery will be UL certified. The recalled batteries were sold with e-bikes between December 2020 and November 2023.

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.

VIVI’s e-bikes are made in China, like 86.3 percent of the US bike market. Prior to May 2nd, Chinese imports were eligible for the de minimis exemption, whereby goods costing less than $800 entered the country duty-free. The impact of this on the price of gadgets from Temu and clothing from Shein has been well documented, but that seemingly inconsequential exception also impacted e-bike safety.

First, it allowed those big lithium-ion batteries attached to cheap e-bike motors to be imported with minimal government inspection, as Consumer Reports warned back in 2022. It also incentivized e-bike makers to cut corners in order to beat that $800 cap. UL testing and certification has a one-time cost of between $30,000 to $100,000 per model, allowing companies like VIVI to undercut brands like Rad Power that willingly pay for the marketing that comes with a UL seal of approval.

There are two main safety standards that apply to e-bikes in the US: UL 2849, which applies to e-bikes, and UL 2271 for e-bike batteries. Both certifications are recommended by the CPSC but remain voluntary everywhere but New York City, which made them mandatory in 2023. As of September 30th, 2024, there were three deaths and 84 injuries from e-bike fires in the city, down from 14 deaths and 114 injuries for the same period a year earlier.

Statewide e-bike safety laws like the one coming into effect for California on January 1st, 2026 could convince more e-bike makers to seek UL certification. But only a federal mandate can guarantee a uniform approach and solve the battery safety issue once and for all.

In the meantime, we can expect more e-bike battery-related injuries to persons and property in the US. And since President Donald Trump is openly hostile to regulation and any form of transportation that doesn’t require exploding dinosaur juice, there’s little hope we’ll see a federal e-bike safety standard during his reign.

So, the best you can do for now is look for that “UL Certified” sticker. If you’re buying a new e-bike in the US, you should demand it. And if you already own a cheap Chinese import without it, well… maybe park it outside.