❌

Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdayMain stream

Fire at Rad Power Bikes retail facility in California is latest trouble for Seattle startup

20 January 2026 at 14:54
The Rad Power Bikes retail shop in Huntington Beach, Calif. (Rad Power Bikes Photo)

A fire broke out at a Rad Power Bikes retail location in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Sunday, drawing more attention to the Seattle-based e-bike company’s recent setbacks.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department responded to a two-alarm structure fire at a plaza housing the store on Pacific Coast Highway. Video streamed on YouTube shows firefighters dealing with the incident, and at least two e-bikes can be seen lying on the ground outside the facility. A photo on Facebook showed smoke rising from the building, which also contains an Equinox gym.

β€œWe’re working with local authorities to review a thermal incident that occurred at our Huntington Beach store Sunday evening,” a Rad spokesperson told GeekWire. β€œThe incident was contained and happened while the store was closed. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.”

Elektrek reported the news early Tuesday.

The fire comes in the midst of a rough period for the once high-flying Rad Power Bikes. The startup filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protectionΒ in December followingΒ surprising news in NovemberΒ that the company wasΒ fighting for survivalΒ as it faced β€œsignificant financial challenges.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)Β issued a warning to consumersΒ less than two months ago to stop using some of the company’s bikes because of danger posed by their lithium-ion batteries. The CPSC warning mentioned 31 reports of fire, with 12 involving property damage.

β€œSome of these incidents occurred when the battery was not charging, the product was not in use, and the product was in storage,” the report stated.

In a statement at the time, Rad said it β€œfirmly stands behind our batteries and our reputation as leaders in the e-bike industry, and strongly disagrees with the CPSC’s characterization of certain Rad batteries as defective or unsafe.”

Related:

❌
❌