Safety officials encourage people to stop using some e-bike batteries after reports of 31 fires

(Gray News) - Officials are asking people to stop using the lithium-ion batteries for Rad Power Bikes’ e-bikes after receiving 31 reports of fires.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said the batteries can unexpectedly ignite and explode, posing a fire hazard.

The CPSC has received 31 reports of fires, which include 12 reports of property damage totaling about $734,500.

Some of the fires happened when the battery was not charging, the e-bike was not being used and was in storage.

Consumers are being asked to remove the battery from the e-bike and dispose of it.

Rad Power Bikes Inc. refused to agree to a recall and told the CPSC that it cannot offer replacement batteries or refunds to customers.

The company said it retested the batteries by third-party labs and the batterie