An electric bike company is recalling 53,000 scooters and hoverboards after two Pennsylvania girls were killed in a fire caused by a scooter battery.
According to a report in The Daily Mail, Brianna Baer, 15, and her sister Abigail Kaufman, 10, died in the fire that began in a first-floor bedroom and spread through their house in Hellertown, Pennsylvania on April 1, 2022. The borough’s fire marshal said that while the cause of the fire is still undetermined, they suspected it originated from the battery of a 42-volt Jetson Rogue scooter.
The deadly accident has now sparked a major recall of Jetson scooters and hoverboards.
When the fire started, the girls’ parents Damien and Jennifer Kaufman were able to get out of the house, but their daughters remained trapped on the second floor. In the wake of the girls’ deaths, family members and friends raised more than $128,000 to help the Kaufmans with hospital bills, repairs, and other expenses.
Jetson Scooters and Hoverboards: Recall Details
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) cited the safety fears caused by this incident when it recalled 53,000 of the company’s scooters and hoverboards, which were sold nationwide by Target. The problem with the scooters comes from the device’s lithium-ion battery packs, which could overheat to the point of causing a fire hazard.
CPSC has advised consumers to immediately stop using and even charging the recalled scooters and hoverboards. A full refund is available if you contact Jetson. The recalled models were sold at Target stores around the country between August 2018 and June 2019, as well as online at ridejetson.com between January 2019 and November 2021.
Consumers are asked to contact the company or Target for a full refund. Because the hoverboard’s lithium-ion battery must be handled differently than other batteries, consumers are asked to deposit the Rogue’s battery in battery recycling boxes found at retailers or home improvement stores. CPSC has also advised that buyers should not dispose of the Rogue’s battery in the trash.
Dangers of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Lithium-ion batteries can be found in a number of consumer tech products, including laptops, cameras, smartphones, etc. Their utility and value lies in the fact that they allow for significant battery life in slim devices. However, a combination of manufacturer issues, misuse, and aging batteries could increase the risk of a fire. These batteries use materials that are highly flammable. Lithium batteries are safe only as long as there are no defects and they are not misused.
In 2016, Samsung issued a global recall of its Galaxy Note 7 because the phones could catch fire or explode. HP and Sony later recalled laptop batteries for fire hazards. About 500,000 hoverboards were recalled for similar risks. In 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) banned uninstalled lithium-ion metal batteries from being checked in luggage and said they must remain with passengers in their carry-on baggage. Despite these dangers and concerns, lithium batteries continue to be popular in many gadgets because they charge faster, last longer, and pack more power into a lighter package.
But not all lithium batteries are equal. Electric bikes and scooters use batteries that can be 50 times bigger than the ones used in smartphones. So, when a fire breaks out, it can be much more serious and dangerous. A battery fire could be triggered by a battery being overheated, punctured, or through some type of electrical fault, such as a short circuit.
In cases where fires occur spontaneously while charging, it is most likely because of a manufacturing defect. Lithium-ion battery fires are surging in frequency in the U.S. and the rest of the world because of an increase in the purchase and use of e-bikes and e-scooters. The use of scooters went up significantly after the pandemic. The demand has led to the proliferation of products that have inferior quality. Advocates are calling for more regulations around these devices’ quality.
How Can Consumers Be Safe?
Here are some steps consumers can take in order to prevent battery-related fires:
- Only purchase UL-certified bikes and scooters from reputable retailers. It can be challenging to tell the origin of products that are sold by online marketplaces and platforms.
- Always use proper charging and battery usage guidelines. Devices with lithium-ion batteries should be charged and stored in a cool, dry place and not left charging for long periods of time, especially when you are asleep.
- Batteries should be regularly inspected to ensure there is no cracking, bulging, or leaking. Always use the charger that came with the device.
If you or a loved one has been injured, or if you have lost a loved one as the result of a defective lithium-ion battery, it is important that you seek the counsel of an experienced product liability attorney near you who can help protect your legal rights and options. You may be able to receive compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, permanent injuries, cost of rehabilitation, property damage, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
