If you’ve ever heard a bike motor wind down at night, you know how quiet things can get fast. Now, a different kind of sound is driving concern: reports of e-bike lithium-ion battery fires.
Misryoum newsroom reported that e-bikes sold by retailers including Amazon, Sears and Walmart are being recalled because the bicycles’ lithium-ion batteries can ignite. That ignition could potentially spark a fire and burn riders. According to a notice posted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 22,000 e-bikes are covered by the recall and should not be used until riders receive a free replacement battery and battery mount.
The company behind the distribution, the China-based Ancheer, said it has received six reports involving fire, explosions or sparks. Those reports include four that detailed burn injuries—so not just scares, but actual harm. Misryoum editorial team noted the recalled bikes are black and carry the model number AM001907. The model number can be found on the packaging and in the instruction manual, but not on the bike itself, which is one of those annoying details that can slow down figuring out whether you’re affected.
A water bottle shaped cylindrical battery distinguishes the recalled model. The e-bike also has 26-inch wheels and “Ancheer” printed on its downtube. If you’re checking at home, that battery shape is the key tell—not a sticker, not a tag on the frame.
Misryoum analysis indicates the recalled e-bikes were sold online from January 2016 through June 2022 for between $280 and $930. They were offered on a range of websites, including www.amazon.com, www.walmart.com, www.sears.com, and others such as www.ebaby.com, www.newegg.com, and www. overstock.com—plus additional retailers listed in the recall notice. Ancheer can be reached toll-free at (888) 661-1330 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday; by email at service@ancheer.shop; or online at www.ancheer.shop/pages/recalls.
The timing is striking too. Misryoum editorial desk noted the recall came two days after the release of a U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission report highlighting an increase in emergency room visits and deaths related to e-scooters, e-bikes and hoverboards. Emergency departments around the U.S. treated more than 77,000 injuries related to the three micromobility products in 2021, up 127% from 34,000 in 2017, CPSC found. The agency is aware of 129 fatalities involving the products from 2017 through 2021, with deaths rising from five in 2017 to 48 last year.
The CPSC also pointed out that lithium-ion battery fires for these micromobility devices have been garnering attention from fire departments nationwide. For riders, the immediate takeaway is simpler than the bigger trend: don’t use the affected e-bikes until the replacement battery and battery mount are installed. And yes, it can feel like an extra hassle—until you remember what the reports describe. Even with a bike on your porch, that risk is still risk.
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