Hoverboards are a lot of fun, but they can also be dangerous. Sometimes they even explode.
That's why Amazon has begun offering full refunds to anyone who has bought a hoverboard from its online store in the U.S. or Canada. The announcement was made on Wednesday in a statement from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) chairman Elliot F. Kaye.
"As encouraged as I am by Amazon’s actions, I expect other retailers and manufacturers of hoverboards to take action and offer a full refund now to their customers as well," Kaye said. "I also expect responsible large-volume online sellers in particular to stop selling these products until we have more certainty regarding their safety."
Kaye noted that CPSC "investigators and engineers continue to work diligently to find the root cause of the hoverboard fires that have occurred throughout the country." The focus of the investigation has been on the lithium-ion battery packs that power most hoverboards. These batteries can be prone to overheating and lack "certain basic safety technologies we expect these units to have," he said.
Swagway, one of the largest hoverboard makers, says it takes "extra measures to prevent overcharging," including FCC, CE, and RohS certified batteries.
Another CPSC concern is that people are falling off hoverboards. The government agency is seeing an "increasing number of serious injuries and emergency room visits."
Kaye explained that existing hoverboards "might not take fully into consideration the different weights of different users, potentially leading to the units speeding up or lurching in a manner that a user would not have reason to anticipate, especially a first-time user."
Airlines and colleges have banned hoverboards, and you're not allowed to ride them in New York City.
If you do assume the risk of riding a hoverboard, here are the CPSC's safety guidelines:
- 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.
- And do not use a hoverboard on or near a road.
Here' a recent video of a hoverboard blowing up:
