Avoid Purchasing Inexpensive Universal Adapters for Electronic Bicycles, Scooters, Hoverboards, and Unicycles
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to immediately stop using certain battery chargers for micromobility devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, self-balancing scooters (hoverboards), and e-unicycles. The warning comes in response to reports of fire and thermal incidents, including serious injuries and property damage, involving chargers marketed as "universal" or suitable for general categories of micromobility devices.
The defective chargers in question are the SafPow SPC-42020 and AMPOWSURE ASP-C10S42020, which are sold for charging 36-volt lithium batteries in micromobility products. However, these chargers are not truly "universal" and can be incompatible with some of the products for which they are advertised.
Between January 1, 2023, and May 16, 2024, the CPSC received 156 reports of fire and thermal incidents involving these chargers, including three reports of burn and smoke inhalation injuries and three reports of property damage totaling $100,200. The defective chargers are black and have either the brand name "SafPow" with the model number "SPC-42020," or the brand name "AMPOWSURE" with the model number "ASP-C10S42020" printed on a label on the charger.
SafPow and AMPOWSURE have refused to conduct a recall for the defective chargers, and there is no publicly available information identifying the manufacturers who sold these charging kits on Amazon.com and eBay.com in the United States between January 2021 and the present. The chargers have been sold on these platforms for between $10 and $31.
To lower the risk of fire, consumers are advised to unplug the charger from the micromobility device when the charge cycle is complete. Always be present when charging micromobility products, and never charge them while you are sleeping. If you do not have the original charger, contact the manufacturer for information about compatible replacement chargers.
Before buying or using a replacement charger, ensure it has been tested and approved to work safely with your device. Using only the charger provided with your micromobility device is the safest option.
The CPSC advises against using "universal" chargers for micromobility products unless they have been tested and approved for safety with the specific device. The Commission issued a press release warning the public of the fire hazard posed by certain makes and models of these chargers on September 5, 2024.
If you suspect that you have a defective charger or have experienced a product-related injury, report it on www.SaferProducts.gov. It's essential to prioritise safety when it comes to charging your micromobility devices to avoid any potential dangers.
