Hoverboards first made an appearance in 2013, and since then, the safety of hoverboards has been controversial. There were many injuries and fire incidents reported due to hoverboards, resulting in the government banning them.
Many self-balancing e-scooters and hoverboards are banned in different countries. The primary reason for their ban is the low safety standards. But, technology evolves, and it is proven that every technology improves with time. However, the biggest question is, are hoverboards safe? And how to keep them safe?
The hoverboards were not considered safe for kids due to their risk of catching fire and exploding in the past. Many incidents of hoverboards catching fire and exploding while riding or charging have been reported in the past few years. But now, the latest hoverboards are somewhat safe to ride.
The safety of hoverboards has long been a subject of controversy, but as we all know, technology has improved throughout time. This raised the key question: are hoverboards safe in this era? Or can we safely ride hoverboards these days? So, let’s discuss and explore more about hoverboard’s safety.
Are Hoverboards Safe In 2022?
Hoverboards technology has improved with time, but they are not considered completely safe in 2022 yet. But, some hoverboards are considered less dangerous than others when handled with care.
Only UL2272 certified self-balancing scooters & hoverboards are recommended for everyone to buy because they have successfully gone through several safety measures like battery penetration, overheating, etc.
But still, there are some rare circumstances in which even a certified hoverboard can be dangerous.
Why Are Hoverboards Not Safe?
Hoverboards are not considered safe vehicles due to different reasons. The leading cause for their safety concern is their history of exploding or fire-catching incidents. But apart from that, there are several other reasons due to which they are not considered safe.
So, let’s discuss some hoverboard safety concerns.
Fire Catching & Explosion
Hoverboards can catch fire or explode in various circumstances. Many incidents of hoverboards exploding and people getting killed or seriously hurt were reported between 2015 to 2019. Besides, these incidents have caused property damage worth more than 2 million dollars.
So this is why it is considered the most significant safety concern of hoverboards. Hoverboards can explode due to several reasons.
Although manufacturers have worked on those issues and somehow they resolved some of them. But still, some problems are left to be determined. Until then, hoverboards are considered unsafe.
Riders Falling Off
Self-balancing e-scooters or hoverboards seem like easy to ride. But this is not the case. It is not less complicated than riding any other two-wheeled vehicle.
They are difficult to control because riders have to handle them with their feet. And there are some situations when people lose decision-making and can’t control their hoverboard anymore.
This results in riders falling off and getting severely injured. A study report shows that more than 30,000 kids injured themselves while riding different self-balancing scooters from 2015 to 2016.
These incidents caused several wrists, forearms, knees, and head fractures. Moreover, many incidents of falling off and getting hurt with sprains and bruises were also reported in the past.
So, riders falling off is one of the biggest safety concerns.
Also Read: Are Hoverboards Safe For 7,8,9,10,11, and 12 Years Old?
Traffic Accidents
As I have written above, hoverboards are not easy to ride or control. They can be more dangerous while you are riding on the road or outside.
Many other fast-moving vehicles are riding on the road, and a tiny mistake can lead a hoverboard rider to get seriously hurt.
A kid was killed due to a traffic accident while riding a hoverboard in London. Many other road accidents occurred with hoverboard riders, resulting in more than 40 deaths and thousands of injuries. That is why hoverboards are not considered safe to ride on the road or outside.
So, you are now aware of some biggest safety concerns of self-balancing scooters. And you must be thinking that traffic accidents and riders falling off problems can happen with any other bike or bicycle rider. But, they are not considered as dangerous as hoverboards.
Yes, this is a valid question. The answer is that hoverboard riders’ bodies are more exposed to the other traffic than the other vehicle riders. This made them at high risk, which is why they are considered more dangerous than other two-wheel vehicles.
Why Do Hoverboards Explode?
There are two most significant reasons behind the hoverboards explosion. Cheap electronics and a cheap battery pack can cause a hoverboard to explode.
A hoverboard needs a powerful battery to run smoothly, for which manufacturers used a lithium-ion battery pack that can provide a powerful battery backup. But, not everything comes with just profits. The biggest downside of a lithium battery is it can be overheated quickly when not handled correctly.
And when a battery is overheated, the chances of catching fire and battery explosion increase.
Hoverboard’s battery contains metal particles and highly flammable electrolytes that can quickly catch fire when exposed to the air.
When a battery is misbehaved or overcharged, it will start overheating and can cause metal particles to collide. This can lead to battery leakage, and when the air hits the highly flammable electrolytes, the battery will first smoke and then catch fire. A battery fire can lead to an explosion resulting in severe damages.
The cheap electronic components mishandle batteries with unsteady voltage & current while charging or riding. This causes batteries to overheat and causes an explosion.
But now, a UL2272 certificate was introduced to test the safety of the hoverboards before selling them to the consumers. And a certified hoverboard is considered less to be exploded. So, before buying any hoverboard, please check if it is UL2272 certified or not. If it’s not, do not ever buy, it can seriously damage you or your property.
Why Do They Use Lithium-Ion Batteries If It Is The Leading Cause Of Hoverboard Explosion?
The lithium battery pack is not solely responsible for the hoverboard explosion. But, it can be the most significant cause.
This battery can only be dangerous when mishandled. As stated above, cheap electronic components can overheat the battery due to unsteady voltage & current.
So, that may cause it to catch fire and explode. But, the question here is why to use a specifically lithium-ion battery pack when there are other options.
Following are the reasons why a lithium-ion battery is installed in a hoverboard.
Long-Lasting Battery
Lithium batteries consist of highly active electrolytes that provide a long-lasting power backup. That is why lithium batteries can last longer than other batteries. And most smart electronic devices have a lithium-ion battery pack like laptops, smartphones, etc.
That is why the lithium-ion battery is considered the most deserving candidate for the long-lasting power backup.
Fast Charging
Hoverboards need a significant power source to run, and for that, we need a powerful battery. There are many other types of powerful batteries available in the market. But, lithium-ion can not only provide a powerful battery backup but a fast charging facility too.
Suppose you have to charge your hoverboard for 6 to 7 hours. How would you feel? Obviously, there is no chance of you charging a hoverboard for so long that it lasts only for a few miles.
That is why manufacturers use a lithium-ion battery that provides fast charging with a powerful backup.
Better Power To Weight Ratio
The lithium-ion battery is considered light in weight as compared to the backup power it provides. So, this is one of the primary reasons for using them in hoverboards.
Manufacturers can use other batteries that provide similar power, but they will be heavier in weight. This will affect the hoverboard’s efficiency, and the wheel motors will consume more power to run. So, that is why lithium-ion batteries are used in hoverboards and other smart electronic devices.
A Definitive Guide On Safety Of Hoverboards
New hoverboards are considered less dangerous than older ones. Because manufacturers updated them according to the situation, they improved their issues quite well (not completely).
But, that doesn’t mean that they are safe now. They need extensive care to be working fine for you. Unless a small misbehave, that can lead to a dangerous hoverboard incident.
So, if you are a hoverboard owner, this guide can help you keep your hoverboard safe and working all the time.
Tips To Keep Your Hoverboard Safe
I’m sure you all are aware of hoverboard overheating and fire-catching issues. The following tips can help you avoid overheating and keep your hoverboard safe.
1. Regular Charge
Do you want your hoverboard to be ready to ride all the time? Then it would help if you charged it regularly after every long ride. This will help you keep your hoverboard’s battery alive, provide a good power backup, and last for a longer time.
Besides, a regular charging cycle can keep the hoverboard and its battery healthy all the time.
2. Charge Via Only Original Charger
Charging any electronic device with an inappropriate charger can lead your device’s battery to be damaged. Similarly, a fake or inappropriate charger can damage the battery health of your hoverboard.
So, do not use fake or cheap chargers because they mostly output a larger amount of voltage or current that can quickly charge the battery but eventually damage its health. Moreover, these chargers can cause battery overheating.
So, avoid using those chargers and use only the original charger that comes with the hoverboard or buy a recommended one according to the device manual.
3. Charge It In Front Of You
Most of the hoverboards that caught fire and exploded were getting overcharged. So, do not keep your hoverboard on charging while you are away. Only charge it in front of you and keep checking after every 30 to 60 minutes. Whenever it is fully charged, unplug the charger quickly.
If you keep it on charging and forget, it can overcharge the battery, and you must be aware that overcharging causes overheating. That will eventually lead to hoverboard destruction. If you don’t want your hoverboard to explode, you must not leave it on charge.
4. Keeping It Away From Water
Water can kill electronic devices in a matter of seconds. So, keep your hoverboard away from moisture. Most of today’s era hoverboards are made water-resistant, but they are not recommended to be moved in the water.
Moreover, hoverboards warranty providers do not accept water-damaged devices. And I’m sure you don’t want to lose your money over a bit of water thrill. So, keep your hoverboard away from water and enjoy riding it for a longer time.
5. Avoid Leaving A Fully Charged Hoverboard For A Longer Time.
Leaving a fully charged hoverboard for a longer period can affect its battery health. So, it would be best if you avoid it. At least use it for a couple of minutes so that the battery starts to drain, and then you can leave it for a while.
If you leave it fully charged, it can damage the battery’s health. It will lead to a weak battery backup, and I’m sure you don’t want it.
6. Avoid Partial Charging
You should avoid partially charging your hoverboard. Because charging without draining the battery can damage the battery cells. It will also lead to low battery backup, and you have to change your battery pack after some time.
So, avoid doing this and only charge your hoverboards there low battery indication.
Conclusion
Hoverboards are the most advanced and thrilling mini e vehicles till now. But, did you know are they safe? Why are they dangerous? Or how to keep them safe if you own one? These are the questions that come into most people’s minds. I have written about all these questions and their appropriate answers. I hope that you have got the information you need. But if something is missing, you can tell me by writing in the comment section below.
I will answer all your queries asap.
