hoverboards
Latest
Safety commission recalls more hoverboards after another fire
It seems Hoverboards just won't stop exploding. After the US government declared all self-balancing scooters unsafe, eight more hoverboard brands are being recalled. The latest fire, caused by the LayZ Board, destroyed one home and damaged four others last month, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). It follows a fatal house fire at the hands of the same brand of hoverboard in March.
A visual history of gadgets that have burst into flames
Samsung had a rough 2016. Last year, the company had to recall its Galaxy Note 7 after units were catching fire, followed by millions of washing machines that were exploding in people's homes. But Samsung isn't the only company that's struggled recently with faulty batteries. We've seen similar issues with hoverboards, a Tesla Model S and the latest electric skateboard from Boosted. Let's take a look at other products that have had trouble in the flammability department. And let's hope those non-exploding lithium Ion batteries get here soon.
The US is looking into exploding self-balancing skateboards
The US Consumer Safety Product Commission has announced that it's launching a large-scale enquiry into the safety of self-balancing skateboards. The devices' propensity to spontaneously combust, notorious enough for even Saturday Night Live to have produced a sketch parodying it, is something of a safety risk. The bureau has designated the problem a "priority investigation" and has allocated plenty of time and resources to find the "root cause of the fires." Although we're not sure they need to, since we all know the problem is their shitty, knock-off lithium ion batteries made by dodgy factories in China.
US college campuses ban 'hoverboards' over fire risks
If you're planning to get around campus on your new hoverboard, you may want to check your school's policy first. According to AP, at least 20 universities in the US have restricted or banned the two-wheeled scooters due to the fire hazard posed by their lithium-ion batteries. In case you haven't been keeping up with the news, a simple Google search can show you recent reports of homes destroyed by fire allegedly caused by hoverboards that spontaneously blew up. "These things are just catching fire without warning, and we don't want that in any of our dorms," Kean University's Len Dolan said.
Politicians are trying to legalize 'hoverboards' in New York
Plenty of New Yorkers will have woken up on Christmas morning and discovered a motorized two-wheeler, otherwise known as a "hoverboard," underneath their festive tree. The electric curiosities are currently illegal to ride in the city, but a small group of politicians are fighting to lift the ban with an amended set of traffic laws. New York State Senator Jose Peralta held a news conference yesterday with Assembleyman David Weprin and council members Andy King and Ydanis Rodriguez; they're pushing forward two bills which, if passed by the New York Senate and Assembly, could make the devices legal on public roads and sidewalks.
'Saturday Night Live' created the perfect 'hoverboard' ad
If Amazon's push to throw out unsafe hoverboards wasn't enough of a wakeup call for you, this Saturday Night Live sketch might make you think twice about picking one up. The gadgets, which exploded in popularity this year, also have a tendency to, well, catch fire. Airlines have already banned them, and US officials are also looking into how safe they are. The big problem seems to be cheap batteries used by some hoverboard manufacturers. If you're looking to get one, just be sure to do your research.
![[Image credit: urbanwheel.co]](https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/zKnoCMx.imaG4Vo06qBSQQ--~B/Zmk9ZmlsbDtoPTQ2ODtweW9mZj0wO3c9ODMyO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/5184x3155+0+150/resize/1400x852!/format/jpg/quality/85/https://o.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/midas/5fea3e99273ea91903991c65454dd1e2/203147963/21718091033_abdac9483a.jpg.cf.jpg)
No 'hoverboard' is safe from UK Trading Standards
"Hoverboards" are getting a pretty bad rap of late, and not just because their common name is annoyingly misleading. Several UK retailers have stopped selling the things due to serious concerns over battery safety -- they have a habit of spontaneously combusting, you see -- with Amazon even advising customers to bin their potentially dodgy models. A number of airlines won't carry them, the US is scrambling to regulate the fad, and earlier this month UK Trading Standards announced it had seized over 15,000 unsafe devices at sea ports, airports and postal hubs since mid-October. This hasn't seemed to dent their popularity much, however, with Trading Standards telling BuzzFeed that figure has now spiked to 32,000 in just a few weeks.
Amazon tells customers to throw out unsafe 'hoverboards'
As a popular destination for self-balancing "hoverboards," Amazon needs to take its safety responsibilities seriously. The retailer has already pulled some models from its store until it can be proved their batteries and chargers are reliable, but now it's taking the unusual step of telling a small number of owners to throw them out. In an email, Amazon has warned US and UK customers that their hoverboard has been deemed "unsafe" and that they should "dispose" of it immediately.
The After Math: 'Murica!
With the presidential elections just under a year away, the American political season is kicking into high gear. But the race to be Commander in Chief isn't the only thing going on in this country. We've got veterans getting new members, Chicken McNugget dispensers and hoverboard bans as well! Here's your United States, by the numbers.
Over 15,000 'unsafe' hoverboards seized at UK borders
Self-balancing scooters. Hoverboards. Whatever you want to call them, they're now a smash-hit in Britain. Companies are now scrambling to offer cheaper and sleeker versions in time for Christmas, but there's a problem: the majority are unsafe, according to Trading Standards. Officers have examined more than 17,000 "hoverboards" at sea ports, airports and postal hubs since October 15th. Of these, more than 15,000, or 88 percent, were deemed dangerous due to "a range of concerns" related to internal batteries and cut-off switches, chargers, plugs and cabling.
Free Realms adds new hoverboard styles, pets, and more
Sony Online Entertainment offered some exciting new items in Free Realms last week, but they hinted then that more was on the way. The next round of items and content arrived over the weekend, sending players back to the Marketplace for another shopping spree. There are two new hoverboard styles to check out -- Clockwork and Dwarftech -- which come with fancy paint jobs and chrome exhaust pipes. If you're an archer, you'll find some new equipment in the Marketplace, and Treebles -- or flying squirrels -- are the latest pets available in the Marketplace. There is one more group of items in the Marketplace: Jackpot Plants. These handy little plants come in three sizes and sprout gold once a day. You can even share the wealth with your friends by asking them to water your plant in exchange for a little reward. Jackpot plants are available from Gold Farmers around Free Realms as well. Finally, there is a brand new playground in Highland Junction behind the pet adoption center, so be sure to stop by in your travels. Take a look at the Free Realms site for all the information on these new items. [Thanks to Lizzy for the tip!]
Free Realms update introduces hoverboards and more
Vacant lots, hoverboards, and launchpads. The latest Free Realms update introduces new items sure to have players lining up at the cash shop. Sure to be a big hit among the new items are the hoverboards -- all-terrain hoverboards, to be precise. They can be a bit tricky, so Ref Ruby has a guide on how to use your new ATH more effectively. In addition to the hoverboards, you can now purchase your very own launchpads -- try combining the use of those with the hoverboards and see what happens. There are new items to enjoy when you're back on the ground, as well: how about some new blocks and bridges? The new blocks are made out of everything from storm clouds to cheese (no, really) and there are even some that disappear a few seconds after you land on them. You can also choose brick or wood bridges while you're shopping for further building options. There is more to be found in the new update, and it's all live now, so take a look at the full set of update notes for all the details!
