Can Hoverboards Explode or Catch Fire?

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Hoverboards are a brilliant invention that, sadly, will have a negative image in most people’s minds, with the media quick to post pics and videos of smoking, exploding and flaming boards back in 2015 / 16.

In this article, we’re looking at why it happened, what’s been fixed and whether or not they are safe to buy for yourself, or your child in 2022.

Can hoverboards catch fire?

Modern hoverboards have had the overheating problems that were found in older boards fixed.

Older models can still catch fire, smoke and explode but so long as you buy a new one, that is Certified according to European standards, your hoverboard will not have any of these issues.

Newer models use highly resistant batteries which means they are safe during charging or when you’re driving.

If you do any research, you’ll find that the incidents of hoverboards catching fire started around 2015 but it’s much harder to find any incidents of hoverboards having problems today.

Did hoverboards really smoke, blow up or catch fire?

A rocky start for self-balancing scooters!

When hoverboards really started to take off in 2015 in the US and the UK, they were extremely popular, with huge sales driven by black Friday and then the Christmas period.

It wasn’t long before the problems started.

The media, online forums and Youtube were quickly showing that there were serious problems with these self-balancing boards. With dramatic images of clouds of dense smoke, erupting flames and burned rooms and homes circulating.

In the US, over half a million hoverboards were recalled! Some of the boards that were recalled included:

  • 267,000 Swagway X1s
  • 84,000 iMotos
  • 70,000 Powerboards
  • 28,000 Hovertraxs
  • 25,000 Hype Roams
  • 16,000 Hover-Ways

Why did they catch fire?

With the early hoverboards that made the news in 2015 through 2016, the issues generally started in either:

  • Poor wiring
  • Unsafe batteries
  • Problems with the charger
  • Faulty cut-off switches

Any of these issues could lead to the device overheating and eventually smoking, or literally bursting into flames.

When the boards came out, people were basically early adopters and had to contend with the somewhat dangerous engineering in some of the boards. As is often the case with Chinese manufacturing, many different factories had their own brand, each without proper safety regulation or testing.

In the UK, thousands of hoverboards were tested by trading standards and many were found to be unsafe and also recalled. With many being impounded at UK ports before they could even be sold. Trading standards were also quick to warn people about the potential fire hazard back in December 2015.

Hoverboards have also been cited as causing numerous residential fires in the US. And a family in Kent had to fork out £25,000 to fix the damage done to their home by an exploding eboard.

Why do some boards catch fire, where others don’t?

As hoverboards quickly became the hottest thing (no pun intended) manufacturers began copying each other’s designs, with cheap knock-offs copying cheap knock-offs. And safety was pushed to the back.

One main oversight was basic protection that would prevent the battery from overcharging, which can lead to fires.

Were self-balancing board fires that bad?

There are still many videos on sites like Youtube (see below) showing hoverboards bursting into flames. While they normally start with a bit of smoke coming out, the fire explodes outwards quickly. The batteries are highly flammable.

How do you know if you’re buying a safe hoverboard that won’t explode?

For starters, don’t think about buying a hoverboard used. Go for a new hoverboard and check that it complies with EU safety standards. Buying from a place like Amazon, the safety details are normally the first feature you’ll see listed in the description.

In the UK, trading standards and retailers are definitely on top of hoverboards now too, quickly recalling any products which are found to be unsafe (which hasn’t happened for a long time).

You can also check with the hoverboard seller to make sure that it’s safety certified and to see which safety tests and certifications it has.

Do I need to buy an expensive hoverboard? Or a big brand name?

No. You don’t need to over-pay for a hoverboard in the UK as they are all covered by the same safety standards. A good hoverboard can cost under £200 in today’s market and the price has nothing to do with how safe it is.

Likewise, there are some good cheaper, but less known brands, with excellent hoverboards you can buy online.

Changes to the safety standards of hoverboards

After a shaky start for hoverboards, it was clear some changes had to be made. The Consumer Product Safety Commission ensured that Chinese wholesalers like Alibaba would require sellers to have safety check certificates for all of the hoverboards they sold.

Do hoverboards still explode, or are they safe now?

Unless you read the small print under an article that’s listed on Google, you could be forgiven for thinking this is still an issue. With eye-catching headlines from the likes of CNET and Wired saying:

“Here’s why hoverboards are catching fire”

and

“Why hoverboards keep exploding!”

It makes it seem like it’s still a serious problem. But the dates under those posts are from 2015 and 2016. In 2022, hoverboards are safe to buy as long as you follow the suggestions in this guide.

Summing up: are hoverboards safe in 2022?

Here’s the quick takeaway from this article:

  • When hoverboards came out in 2015, some overheated and caught fire
  • Faulty wiring or problems with the battery were to blame.
  • Those problems have been addressed
  • New hoverboards are safe as long as they are safety certified to EU standards
  • Buy your hoverboard new, and check it has been certified safe
  • You don’t need to buy an expensive hoverboard to get one that’s safe

References & Further Reading