Greenworks Tools is recalling approximately 554,780 [1] Kobalt power-tool batteries after discovering a fire hazard linked to the USB-C charging system.
The recall affects a massive volume of equipment sold nationwide through Lowe’s stores. Because these tools are common in both residential and professional settings, the potential for widespread electrical fires is significant.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) coordinated the action after identifying a specific technical failure. The batteries can short-circuit if they are charged via the USB-C port while they remain attached to the tool. This failure can result in the batteries "producing smoke, sparking or catching fire while the batteries are inserted in the tool and charging with the USB‑C port," the CPSC said [1].
Greenworks Tools has reported 34 incident reports [1] regarding this issue. Despite these reports, there have been no reported injuries [1] associated with the faulty charging system. The company is moving to remove the defective units from circulation to prevent future accidents.
"We are recalling these products to protect our customers from a potential fire hazard," a Greenworks Tools spokesperson said [2].
The company is working with Lowe's to manage the return and replacement process for the affected lithium-ion batteries. Users are encouraged to stop using the USB-C charging feature while the battery is docked in the tool until the recall process is complete.
“"producing smoke, sparking or catching fire while the batteries are inserted in the tool and charging with the USB‑C port"”
This recall highlights the risks associated with integrating multi-purpose charging ports, like USB-C, into high-capacity lithium-ion battery systems. When a charging circuit is designed to function while the battery is actively mated to a tool, any failure in the isolation between the charging port and the tool's power draw can lead to critical short-circuits. The scale of the recall suggests a fundamental design flaw rather than a batch-specific manufacturing error.
