Latest news with #MicahToll
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Walmart Recall Nationwide: Customers Told to 'Immediately Stop' Using Products
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. E-bikes sold through major online retailers, including Walmart, are being recalled due to faulty lithium-ion batteries that can overheat and pose fire hazards. The recall affects thousands of e-bikes produced by VIVI, and customers are urged to stop using them immediately for their safety. Newsweek reached out to VIVI via email on Friday. Why It Matters VIVI's e-bikes are among the most affordable on the market. The issues with the lithium-ion batteries highlight potential risks associated with buying low-cost e-bike models sold online. What To Know About 24,000 VIVI brand e-bikes have been recalled due to faulty lithium-ion batteries. VIVI has received 14 reports of incidents of batteries overheating, including three fires. However, no injuries have been reported as of yet, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice said. The CPSC has released a full list of affected e-bike models, along with their battery model number. The model information can be found on a customer's sales order documentation and on certain bicycle frames, while battery model information can be found on the battery itself. Close up to the Walmart logo on web browser. E-bikes sold on Walmart's website have been recalled. Close up to the Walmart logo on web browser. E-bikes sold on Walmart's website have been recalled. Getty Images Those who have purchased any of the affected models should immediately stop using the e-bikes and contact VIVI for a free replacement battery and charger, the recall notice said. The recalled batteries must be disposed of at household hazardous waste (HHW) collection centers or following local guidelines due to the fire risk. Customers are advised not to throw these batteries in the trash, curbside recycling, or retail battery drop-off points. Bikes with the affected batteries were sold through various online retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, eBay, Wish, Sears, Wayfair, Ali Express and VIVI e-bikes' own site. The e-bikes affected by the recall were sold between December 2020 and November 2023 and retailed between $365 and $950. The brand is known for selling affordable e-bikes. The e-bikes were manufactured by Guangzhou Plenty Bicycle Co., Ltd., of China and distributed by Shenzhen Binxin Household Co., Ltd., d/b/a VIVI E-bikes, of China. What People Are Saying Micah Toll, a reporter for Electrek, an American news website that writes about electric vehicles, wrote about the recall: "We've said it before and we'll keep saying it: cheap batteries are risky batteries. UL certification isn't legally required in most places (yet), but if a company isn't willing to invest in the most basic safety testing, it should raise alarm bells." What Happens Next Customers who have purchased e-bikes with the affected batteries should contact VIVI to be sent a free replacement battery and battery charger.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
World's largest scooter maker turns heads with next-gen update on new model: 'Could help lead the entire industry toward this'
Global scooter giant Yadea's latest electric two-wheeler looks like a vintage cruiser that you could have seen navigating a busy Italian street decades ago. But this one is clearly built for the 2020s and beyond, as it's powered by emerging sodium-ion battery tech, according to a news release. "Yadea's status as a major electric motorbike maker also means that its adoption of sodium-ion battery technology could help lead the entire industry toward this battery chemistry, bringing safety and performance benefits along with it," Electrek's Micah Toll wrote. The publication said that Yadea has been the world's largest electric vehicle maker, of the two- and three-wheel variety, for seven years. For reference, the e-scooter market was worth $37 billion in 2023 with growth potential, according to estimates from California-based Grand View Research. Sodium-ion batteries are being developed by experts around the world as an alternative to lithium-ion packs for a variety of uses. A large version made in China is storing enough electricity to power 12,000 homes, for example. The chemistry has a similar structure as lithium, only there are sodium ions moving between the electrodes during operation instead of lithium ones, as described by ScienceDirect. Yadea's team sees the same advantages as others pursuing the salt-based power packs: "enhanced safety, environmental friendliness, and longer lifespan," per the release. For their part, lithium packs include expensive, hard-to-gather materials. What's more, some of the components are flammable. While catastrophic, failures and related fires are less common than gas-powered vehicle blazes, per multiple reports. It's also important to note that lithium packs remain reliable power sources for most EVs and other tech, despite invasive parts mining and processing. While 7.7 million tons of minerals are mined for "low-carbon" tech each year, about 16.5 billion tons of common fossil fuels are hauled from the earth annually, all per Sustainability by Numbers. Should the U.S. invest more in battery innovations? Absolutely Depends on the project We're investing enough We should invest less Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Better battery chemistries that leverage more sustainable materials can ease remaining concerns and help the shift from dependence on foreign supply chains and nonrenewable fuels. On the road, scooter enthusiasts will be excited about the ride's performance, too. That's because the Yadea-dubbed HuaYu Sodium Superfast Charging Ecosystem charges to 80% in 15 minutes. The pack withstood 20 safety tests, with fire resilience under extreme conditions among them. The battery has a three-year warranty, but it should be good for up to five years. That's based on an expected 1,500-cycle life at room temperature. It also has a discharge retention rate of more than 92% at minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit — good for anyone who enjoys brisk rides, all per Yadea. Sodium packs aren't yet at parity with lithium when it comes to energy density — the amount of electricity that can be stored per pound. This results in less range, by comparison, Electrek reported. But Yadea and others seem to be closing the gap. That's important as we transition to a cleaner, battery-powered transportation system. EVs, for example, prevent thousands of pounds of heat-trapping air pollution compared to gas cars, according to U.S. government data. The fumes are linked by medical experts to lung, heart, and other health risks. Switching to an EV, e-scooter, or e-bike can save you loads of cash by eliminating gas and maintenance costs, as well. And tax breaks of up to $7,500 remain available for qualified EVs. As for Yadea, company experts indicated that we should expect more innovations. "Yadea remains committed to driving innovation in technology, delivering more efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly mobility solutions to consumers worldwide," per the statement. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
