Reports of exploding hoverboards and viral fail compilations have made consumers wary about splurging on these contraptions this holiday season.
Hoverboards are self-balancing, two-wheeled, personal transportation devices. They have a moderate chance of exploding. The powerful lithium ion batteries within these devices cause this safety issue.
According to Jay Whitacre, a science and engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University, “Small defects in the manufacturing or materials stream lead to the plus/minus sides of…batteries being shorted with each other after a small amount of use. When this happens, especially when the batteries are charged, a lot of heat is generated inside the cells and this leads to electrolyte boiling, the rupture of the cell casing, and then a significant fire.”
Despite this risk, according to Popular Science, one hoverboard was sold every 12 seconds throughout Cyber Monday. The exploding popularity of these gadgets has lead to the implementation of new laws and regulations in large metropolitan areas such as New York City, Honolulu and Hong Kong, restricting the use of “hoverboards” to private properties.
According to KHON, Honolulu Police Department officers are prohibiting people from using hoverboards throughout Waikiki. Hoverboard ownership in Hawaii is further complicated by the recent regulations created by major airlines. Because one could potentially ignite inside the baggage compartments of commercial jets, hoverboards are now 13th on the list of restricted items for checked baggage, carry on baggage, and on-person carry ons for Hawaiian Airlines, says the airline’s website.
The Transportation Department of Hong Kong released a statement, saying, “Since the construction and operation of these motor-driven devices could pose a danger to the users themselves and other road users, they are not appropriate to use on roads, hence they cannot be registered and licensed.”
According to the Hong Kong Free Press, cruising around on a hoverboard on the sidewalk or street could saddle users with a hefty fine of HK$5,000 (US $645), along with up to 90 days in jail.
BYUH Security has yet to implement any policies relating to the use of hoverboards.
Rafael Ramos, the operations manager for campus security from Mexico City, said, “For now, it is under the student’s own responsibility, because they are not registered with the state. Once we start seeing that they come into campus more, we’ll have to address it to see what specific rules pertain to them.”
Iona Teriipaia, BYUH Security supervisor from Kahuku, explained it would be wise not to ride them in hallways, inside buildings, or to go the wrong way on the street; the same rules that are already in place for skateboards, bicycles, and scooters.
Makena Keliikuli from Kahuku said of his hoverboard, “I’ve owned [it] for a few months now. I bought mine straight from a manufacturer in China… which meant I didn’t have to pay the insane price. [It] goes pretty fast. When I’m feeling lazy, you can catch me pushing my grandmother on it. If it goes too fast, you can lose control. The obvious con is the risk of explosion. It may or may not happen. All I know is this is the same type of battery [that] exists in your phones, computers, and other devices.”
David Pierce, senior writer for WIRED, said, “The beauty of the way these things work is that they are going to get cheaper and better,” just like iPhones and iPods. “The companies that sell [them] are already designing better, safer boards and the price is coming down really fast.”