U.S. government declares hoverboards unsafe for use

Hoverboards that lack independent safety certification — basically all of them that have been sold so far — pose an “imminent threat,” according to a letter from the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) sent to manufacturers, importers, and dealers of hoverboards. They’re now subject to recall or seizure by the U.S. government. The agency stated that anyone caught selling uncertified hoverboards will face civil and criminal penalties.

“Self-balancing scooters that do not meet these voluntary safety standards pose an unreasonable risk of fire to consumers,” the agency wrote. “Consumers risk serious injury or death if their self-balancing scooters ignite and burn.” 

A burned hoverboard. Image source: CPSC.

The CPSC is calling on hoverboard makers and sellers to voluntarily take hoverboards off the market until they can be certified as safe by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), the independent testing firm widely used by U.S. electronics manufacturers. So far, UL has not certified any hoverboards as safe.

Although the CPSC’s action doesn’t constitute a recall by itself, it will prompt recalls from major retailers and manufacturers. The notice also applies to self-balancing scooters, including single-wheel devices. The reason behind this decision is to prevent future hoverboard-related carnage.

According to the CPSC, it’s received 52 reports of fires resulting from malfunctioning hoverboards from 24 states that have caused over $2 million in property damage, as well as complete destruction of one home and an automobile. 

A CPSC official testing a hoverboard in the agency's facility. Gif source: CPSC.

“We believe that many of the reported incidents, and the related unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with fires in these products, would be prevented if all such products were manufactured in compliance with the referenced voluntary safety standards,” the CPSC said.

Hoverboard dealers are being ordered to obtain two levels of safety certification: one for the lithium ion batteries as outlined by the United Nations and the U.S. Department of Transporation, and the second for the entire hoverboard by UL. UL recently announced that it's accepting submissions from hoverboard manufacturers and distributors. 

The letter was first reported by Mashable .