A new product, this past year’s most popular Christmas gift, has finally arrived. The self-balancing, two-wheeled board, or hoverboard, is now available. However, the hoverboards have an extra feature, an extra bang for your buck: they come with a tendency to catch on fire.
The appeal of hoverboards greatly increased after celebrities such as Wiz Khalifa, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner set the trend.
“I just saw everyone having them and they seemed fun… to do tricks on, fun to spin around. You can chase people,” said sophomore Amanda Mock.
However, with the possibility of the hoverboards erupting in flames, there seems to be some hesitation to enjoy these devices.
“They’re exploding… because some of the people who are selling them are messing with the lithium batteries…. But there are companies like IO HAWK, which are [selling] the really expensive ones that aren’t messing with them,” said Mock.
Hoverboards with bad batteries may pose a threat if they spontaneously combust, which is probably why they are not allowed on airplanes.
“[The hoverboards are] more dangerous to some than others, like [those] on an airplane or in a car, but fairly dangerous to everyone,” said seventh grader Lani Soh.
In contrast, other hoverboard owners seem to feel safer riding their vehicles if the manufacturer is reliable. Plus, with the wind blowing through responsible riders’ helmet holes, riders tend to forget about the fact that their hoverboards could catch on fire.
“At first I was wary, but my mom assured me she researched the company. Plus once you’re on it you kind of forget about the whole fire thing,” said seventh grader Mackenzie Keeley.
Some buyers do not feel endangered by their vehicles as they are careful to keep their hoverboards from charging for too long, which is when many have reportedly caught on fire.
“They are really fun and only four people’s hoverboards caught on fire because they were constantly charging,” said seventh grader Kylie Buchert.
In opposition to the argument that the hoverboards pose a danger to buyers and the community, some do not see the dangers of the hoverboards and even have proof that their hoverboards do not catch on fire when they are charged for an extensive period of time.
“I charged mine for a week and it did not catch on fire, and most of them have cooling systems,” said Buchert.
Other problems associated with the hoverboards are linked to unsafe riders, and the possibility of lumbering around with the hoverboard if it were to run out of battery power.
“[The battery] could die and then you would be carrying it and it’s… 27 lbs but it feels like 50,” said Mock.
Generally, riders find it quite easy to handle their hoverboards, and see it as a simple and fun mode of transportation.
“Don’t step off forward because it will fly forward and hit you in the legs and you’ll fall… but they’re actually really easy to ride, you just stand up straight, and point your toes, tilt your heels,” said Mock.
With this in mind, as a reminder to those who purchase the hoverboards, seventh grader Olivia Beall said “People buy at their own risk.”
