FDNY’s battery-safety instructions (revised March 2024, pp. 45–46) are the source for these warning signs and emergency actions.

First: is this an emergency or a damaged battery?

Stop troubleshooting if there is smoke, fire, overheating, leaking, an unusual smell or noise, or a change in the battery's shape. FDNY lists these as warning signs requiring immediate action. For an emergency, get away from the danger and call your local emergency number; do not handle or carry a smoking or burning pack. In the US and Canada, call 911. See FDNY lithium-ion battery guidance.

If a pack or charger is visibly damaged or has suffered water ingress, stop using it and contact the manufacturer or a qualified service provider. Do not charge it to see whether it still works.

Choose the symptom

What should I check if the bike will not turn on?

Record the bike and battery model, display behavior and any error code. Follow the manual's normal power-on and battery-seating instructions. Inspect externally for damage without disassembly. If the manual's owner checks do not resolve it, contact service; a dark display alone does not identify which component failed.

What should I check if the battery will not charge?

Confirm that the charger is the one supplied or specifically recommended for your device. Read the model's indicator-light instructions; colors and blinking patterns are not universal. Follow its temperature and charging procedure. Stop if damage or abnormal behavior appears. Do not assume a plug that fits is compatible.

What should I do if the bike cuts out while riding?

Stop safely. Note whether the display went dark, assistance stopped, or an error appeared, along with the load and conditions. Repeated shutdowns need service evaluation rather than repeated attempts to push through the problem. Do not bridge terminals or disable battery protections.

How should I investigate lower-than-expected range?

Compare similar trips and record assistance setting, distance, load and conditions. A single short-range ride does not establish battery health. Ask the manufacturer about available diagnostics and model-specific warranty or service options. Use the battery planning tool for explicit assumptions, not to certify an existing pack's health.

Charging rules that matter

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends following manufacturer charging instructions, remaining present while charging, and using the supplied or manufacturer-recommended charger. It also calls for replacement packs confirmed suitable by the device manufacturer and warns against packs reworked by unqualified people or made with repurposed/used cells. Read the CPSC micromobility information center.

There is no universal eight-hour troubleshooting charge. A charger-light pattern or a voltage reading should not be treated as a universal diagnosis. Do not bend contacts with tools, probe terminals based on generic instructions, open a pack, replace cells or attempt a protection-system reset from an internet recipe.

Prepare a useful service request

  • Bike, battery and charger model identifiers.
  • The exact symptom, when it began and any displayed error.
  • Recent impacts, water exposure, storage or changes to equipment.
  • Which manufacturer-approved owner checks you completed.
  • Purchase/warranty information and photos of exterior damage if safe to obtain.

Check manufacturer notices and official recall databases for the exact model. A similar-looking battery is not enough to establish whether a warning applies.

Repair, replacement and disposal

Ask the manufacturer or qualified service provider whether approved repair or replacement is available. For disposal, contact local hazardous-waste services and explain whether the battery is damaged; do not put it in household trash or ordinary recycling. Follow the instructions they give for acceptance and transport.

Battery replacement cost questions · Temperature and storage guide · Planning tools

This checklist does not diagnose internal faults or establish compatibility. Model-specific instructions and qualified service assessment remain necessary.

Planning a longer break? Use the battery storage and temperature checklist to find the instructions for your exact pack.

Planning travel or a shipment? The battery transport checker separates rated capacity, condition and transport context. Read the airline and battery guide before relying on a travel arrangement.