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<\/p>\nRad Power Bikes, a Seattle-based electric bike manufacturer, is popular all across the US thanks to its practical and affordable electric bicycles. Among its popular models include the RadCity 5, a practical urban commuter with built-in cargo carrying capabilities, as well as the RadRunner 3, a rugged and capable utility bike that can pretty much go anywhere.<\/p>\n
As part of the brand\u2019s commitment to providing safe and dependable electric bicycles, it has announced that all of its bikes, as well as the batteries found in them, will be compliant to UL standards. As we discussed in a previous article, New York City in particular, had mandated that all electric bikes in the city must be compliant to UL standards. For reference, UL, or Underwriter Laboratories, is one of the oldest third-party safety certification authorities in operation. In the case of e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries, the safety\u00a0issue here is fire prevention.<\/p>\n
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You\u2019re probably well aware of the growing concern e-bike fires have been posing to dense urban cities. While only a handful of fires have occurred while hundreds of thousands of bikes continue to be charged every day with no issue, these fires have ultimately resulted in a few deaths, and governments are not taking it lightly. Rad Power\u2019s announcement to certify all its bikes under UL standards marks a big step for the company, as it\u2019s the first major e-bike manufacturer to do so.<\/p>\n
More specifically, Rad Power Bikes has taken a two-pronged approach when it comes to its UL certification. For starters, all of the company\u2019s electric bicycles will be compliant with the UL 2849, or the \u201cUL Standard for Electrical Systems for eBikes.\u201d Under this certification, all the bike\u2019s electrical components including the electric motor, battery, and charging system are inspected and certified. On top of that, all of Rad Power\u2019s lithium-ion batteries will also be certified under the UL 2271, applying only to the batteries used in light electric vehicles.<\/p>\n