![]() ![]() The recall followed at least 99 reports of the battery packs in hoverboards catching fire or exploding. In July 2016, the CPSC issued a recall for more than 500,000 hoverboards from 10 different companies. Many of the electric scooters have large high-watt lithium batteries, which can explode and catch fire without warning. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating at least 10 incidences of hoverboard fires in 9 states. Hoverboard FiresĪccording to a CBS report, the U.S. Self-balancing scooters and other motorized transporters are also banned from sidewalks and public roads in the United Kingdom. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) has declared hoverboards illegal and warned people that they could be fined or face other punishment if they’re caught riding them in the street. Until Amazon’s recent decision to ban several types of hoverboards over safety concerns, models ranged from $300 to $700 each, with the low-end versions being manufactured without much quality control. There is a huge difference in the quality and price of the various hoverboards on the market. In most cases, hoverboards explode because they come equipped with a defective battery. ![]() Motors inside the board change power output to keep the rider upright. The gyroscopes, which are connected to the microprocessors, gather information about the tilt of the board. In order to keep the hoverboard upright, microprocessors in the device monitor the direction a rider is leaning. large lithium ion batteries to fuel the scooter.microprocessors to manage power output to the motors, and.motors that keep the board balanced and move it forward.a gyroscope to determine the pitch or balance of the board.Copyright © 2006-2016 Consumers Union of U.S. We'd also advise you to use a spotter when climbing on or off a hoverboard and to avoid riding the boards in areas with vehicular traffic.Ĭonsumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. In the meantime, he cautioned riders to wear a helmet, wrist guards, and pads on their elbows and knees. A pebble, a small stick, even a crack in the sidewalk is often enough to jolt a rider from the perch.Īccording to Kaye, ASTM International, an engineering standards body, is developing a stability standard to address this issue. "I have spoken out for months about my concerns with the instability of certain self-balancing scooters," Kaye said in his statement.Ĭonsumer Reports issued a similar warning in December after our tests determined that the footpads that control the speed and direction of a hoverboard are almost too responsive to subtle shifts in weight. Since last August, such falls have resulted in roughly 7,200 emergency room visits, the CPSC estimates. In today's statement, Kaye also warned consumers about injuries-many of them serious-related to hoverboard falls. Swagway, Razor, and eight other companies are offering refunds, repairs, or replacement units to customers who purchased their hoverboards between June 2015 and May 2016, when Ninebot became the first hoverboard manufacturer to receive the new UL certification.įor more information on the recalled models and potential remedies, consumers can consult. The genuine mark appears on a holographic label and specifically cites UL 2272. The company claims that Swagway and other hoverboard manufacturers have applied counterfeit UL marks to their products in the past. Before you purchase a new hoverboard, you should make certain it carries a UL logo.īut even that logo may not guarantee the product has really been saftey tested by UL. In February, UL, a company that tests and certifies products for safety, unveiled a new certification process- UL 2272-designed to address those problems. The CPSC has investigated more than 60 hoverboard-related fires in 20 states, which have caused in excess of $2 million in property damage. In particular, Kaye pointed to ongoing problems with the devices' electrical systems and lithium-ion battery packs, which pose a fire hazard. ![]()
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