hoverboards

French inventor Franky Zapata has successfully flown over the English Channel on a personal flying machine.

This Time, Franky Zapata Makes It Across The English Channel On A Hoverboard

1:07pm August 05, 2019

by Merrit Kennedy

Nobody else has ever tried to cross the body of water by hoverboard, which is powered by a backpack full of fuel. The last time he tried, he plunged into the sea.

Product safety field staff send damaged products, such as this burnt battery pack from a defective electric scooter, to the government testing lab in Rockville, Md.

As Batteries Keep Catching Fire, U.S. Safety Agency Prepares For Change

1:57pm November 27, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

The Consumer Product Safety Commission grabbed the spotlight in recalls of hoverboard scooters and Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 phones. It's a tiny agency with a vast oversight of thousands of products.

A youth poses as he rides a hoverboard, which is also known as a self-balancing scooter and balance board, last October in Knutsford, England. More than half a million of the devices have been recalled in the United States, after nearly 100 instances of t

National

Half A Million 'Hoverboards' Recalled Over Risk Of Fire, Explosions

6:53pm July 06, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

Self-balancing scooters — better known as hoverboards (though they do not hover) — can spark, smoke, catch fire or explode, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

The plastic sheet invented by Stanford University chemical engineer Zhenan Bao and her colleagues can be inserted in lithium-ion batteries to avoid overheating.

Batteries With A Less Fiery Future

1:58pm January 20, 2016

by Joe Palca

Overheated lithium-ion batteries have been a problem for airplanes, cars and even "hoverboards." A chemical engineer at Stanford University thinks she has a solution to the problem.

Queue Listen Now

Father Albert San Jose of Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Parish was suspended by his diocese after a video emerged of him riding a "hoverboard" scooter during Mass in the Philippines.

Catholic Priest Apologizes For Riding 'Hoverboard' During Church Service

10:16am December 30, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Father Albert San Jose became something of a viral hit after video was posted online of him riding a self-balancing scooter through the aisles, singing "May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You."

Though most hoverboards are made safely, poor quality lithium-ion batteries could be the main culprit behind the recent safety scares.

National

Why Are 'Hoverboards' Literally Catching On Fire?

9:08am December 19, 2015

by NPR Staff

Reports of the boards burning up have focused attention on shoddy lithium-ion batteries. While most devices with the batteries are made safely, precautions can be taken in choosing and using them.

Queue Listen Now

Hoverboards like the one seen here won't be allowed on flights by America's top three airlines, which are citing a potential fire hazard related to the self-balancing scooters' powerful lithium-ion batteries.

National

Hoverboards Put On No-Fly List, As Airlines Cite Fire Concerns

9:38am December 11, 2015

by Bill Chappell

The bans come as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it's looking into at least 10 reports of the self-balancing electric scooters bursting in flames.