It looks like Rad Power Bikes owners may soon have a more affordable path to upgrading to the company’s newer Safe Shield battery technology.
In an email just sent out today, Rad Life Mobility announced plans for a program that would allow eligible customers to receive up to 50% off replacement Safe Shield batteries for older Rad e-bikes.
Details are still fairly limited for now. The email encourages owners of Rad e-bikes using earlier battery systems to sign up for updates, noting that the company will “be in touch soon to learn a little more about your ride.”
The message also includes an important disclaimer: Rad Life Mobility is “an independent company not affiliated with Rad Power Bikes Inc.”
That distinction is important because this isn’t the original Rad Power Bikes company that rose to become one of North America’s largest e-bike brands during the industry boom years. Instead, Rad Life Mobility is the new company that acquired Rad’s assets earlier this year after the original business went through a difficult restructuring process amid layoffs, lawsuits, and shrinking sales.
Still, one of the more valuable assets Rad retained through those struggles was its increasingly advanced battery technology.
The company’s newer Safe Shield batteries were developed as a major safety upgrade over traditional e-bike battery designs. Unlike conventional battery packs that leave cells separated mostly by air gaps and plastic spacers, Rad’s Safe Shield system uses a proprietary thermal-resistant potting material designed to isolate cells and help prevent thermal propagation in the event of a battery failure.
In simpler terms, the design aims to stop a single failing battery cell from triggering a larger chain-reaction fire.
The technology was widely viewed as one of the more sophisticated battery safety developments in the consumer e-bike industry and came at a time when battery safety was becoming an increasingly important issue for cities, regulators, and riders alike.
The announcement also follows a CPSC safety notice issued late last year involving certain older Rad battery packs after reports of overheating incidents.
At this point, it’s unclear exactly which battery models or bike generations will qualify for the discounted upgrade program, how many customers may be eligible, or when the replacements will become available.
But for owners of older Rad bikes, especially those interested in upgrading to newer battery technology with improved safety protections, the program could end up being a fairly significant development once more details emerge.
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