In a significant move to protect consumers and mitigate the risk of fires, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has initiated a ban on the sale of the UPP battery, a Chinese-manufactured e-bike battery associated with a series of fires across England. The enforcement action includes warning consumers about the potential dangers posed by this particular battery.

The OPSS has issued withdrawal notices to major online marketplaces, including Amazon, Ebay, Alibaba, and Made in China, instructing them to cease supplying the UPP battery as distributors. Furthermore, the manufacturer, UPP, and 20 direct sellers have also received withdrawal notices.

Graham Russell, Chief Executive of OPSS, expressed the severity of the situation, stating, “We consider these UPP batteries to be dangerous, and that is why we are taking this action to stop them being supplied. Consumers need to be aware of the risk of these batteries failing, and the potentially fatal consequences that can occur. If anyone owns one, they should not use it and contact the seller for redress.”

The OPSS has published a detailed product safety report highlighting the critical issues with the UPP battery. The report identifies poor construction quality, inadequate welding connecting the components, absence of a heat sensor to prevent overheating, and an insufficient battery management system to avert thermal runaway. Consequently, the product fails to meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Consumers are recommended to stop using the battery immediately and to discard it at a nearby household recycling centre, ensuring to verify whether the facility accepts this particular battery type.

View the SOURCE here.

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