More than 500,000 hoverboards recalled after fires
NEW YORK TIMES
Shannon Clay Jr., performing tricks on a Power Board, a type of hoverboard he sells at a mall kiosk, during Black Friday in Austin, Texas, Nov. 27, 2015.
NEW YORK >> More than 500,000 hoverboards are being recalled after dozens of reports of fires and spewing smoke.
There have been 99 reports to the Consumer Product Safety Commission of battery packs that have overheated, exploded or caught fire, the U.S. regulator said today.
There have been at least 18 reports of injuries, such as burns to the neck, legs or arms, according to the CPSC. Property damage has also been reported.
Hoverboards were a hot item during the holiday season, but videos and photos of hoverboards on fire were soon teeming on the internet. The CPSC warned makers and retailers of the two-wheel motorized scooters earlier this year that they were required to follow newly-created safety requirements or face recalls. Many airlines, railroads and college campuses have already banned hoverboards citing safety risks.
The recalled hoverboards were made by 10 companies ranging from Swagway LLC of South Bend, Indiana, to Keenford, based in Hong Kong.
They were sold in major stores nationwide and online between June 2015 and May 2016. They cost as much as $900.
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Owners should stop using the recalled hoverboards and return them for a full refund, free repair or a free replacement, the CPSC said.
3 responses to “More than 500,000 hoverboards recalled after fires”
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Whoa, this really was a hot item! I’ve seen users vaping and hoverboarding at the same time.
Batteries have been historically subject to potentially starting fires or exploding. This is old news and yet the US Consumer Products agency have not informed the public about these potential dangers. Now it’s about hoverboards. What about batteries in automobiles and in our homes? Airlines should outlaw hoverboards from aircraft.
See US Consumer Products Safety Commission. It’s all over their home page. http://www.cpsc.gov They are banned on airlines also. They are talking about Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries, not lead-acid or other types of batteries.