Tech world is ablaze with the obsession of the hoverboards. There are multiple reports indicating hoverboards are catching fire for various reasons and risking the lives of its riders. Airlines have banned the hoverboards from its planes and schools do not allow the hoverboards anymore. So what is actually going on?
All this started with the obsession to look cool but the most of the devices on the shelve in the market are either of poor quality or have difficult time balancing the rider due to inferior design of the hoverboards.
The U.S. customs have recently seized 300 hoverboards on the coast of Miami worth $94,000. These shipments have arrived from china and upon the disassembly of the device, it was found that batteries used had the branding of Samsung and LG. now LG and Samsung have released a statement implying that they have not manufactured the said batteries and the trademarks were fake.
These devices were catching fire frequently due to inferior quality of the used fake batteries.
Amazon has recently stated that it is issuing full refunds to the consumer who have bought the 2 wheeled balancing device. the product safety commission is also discouraging consumers to buy such devices that put the live of its rider and other at risk. Recently, 2 dogs were killed when such a device caught fire killing 2 dogs and causing extensive damage to the property.
At first glance, it is easy to believe the risk of falling off a hoverboard is an obvious one and to dismiss those injuries as user inexperience or error,” said CPSC chairman Elliot F. Kaye in a statement. “However, I am concerned, for example, that the current designs of these products might not take fully into consideration the different weights of different users, potentially leading to the units speeding up or lurching.”
The government officials have the following recommendation while using the self-balancing 2 wheeled device.
- Have a working fire extinguisher nearby while charging or using these boards.
- Charge in an open area away from combustible materials.
- Gear up before riding, which means putting on a skateboard helmet, elbow and knee pads, and wrist guards.
- Do not use a hoverboard on or near a road.
