A SHOCKING new video shows the exact moment a self-balancing board – dubbed hoverboard – ERUPTED into flames under the owners’ feet.

The hoverboard has seconds to leap out of the way of the fire

This terrifying new footage shows the moment a hoverboard bursts into flame under the owners’ feet.British hoverboard owner Kevin MacLeod claims he was filming his first attempt on the new gadget because he “thought i would end up falling over and wanted to catch it on video.”But smoke quickly starts to pour out of the device when Mr MacLeod places his feet on the self-balancing board.”I started to stand back and look hesitant because I started to hear a kind of faint hissing sound just before the smoke, I stood back to look down as to what it was,” he posted on YouTube.”Before I could really react to that it was smoking then just went up in flames.”

It doesn’t take long before the hoverboard bursts into flame – and Mr MacLeod has seconds to jump out of the way of the fire.Unlike previous videos of hoverboards burning, this model doesn’t shoot out its batteries or begin to spew foam.But that might be because of the full kettle of water that Mr MacLeod quickly dumps on the burning ‘board.Mr MacLeod doesn’t name and shame the brand name of the hoverboard, but at the beginning of the YouTube video, which has now been viewed more than 93,000 times, the hoverboard can be seen being removed from a box that reads, Smart Balance Wheel.

This is not the first time a hoverboard has exploded on film

“No wonder you’re not allowed to bring them on [airplane] flights,” he added.

The news comes months after the National Trading Standards, or NTS, seized some 15,000 self-balancing scooters ahead of Christmas.

NTS officials said many of the hoverboards seized had “non-compliant electrical components that could explode or catch fire”.

Non-compliant plugs without fuses were found on many of the self-balancing scooters. This increases the risk of overheating and exploding.

'Batteries started shooting out of it' the Alabama man told his local news channel

Bundled chargers, cables and batteries also failed a key number of National Trading Standards tests.

NTS chairman Lord Toby Harris revealed: “Our teams at sea ports, postal hubs and airports have seen a significant spike in the number of unsafe hoverboards arriving at national entry points in recent weeks and are working around the clock to prevent dangerous items from entering the supply chain.”

Self balancing scooters are battery-powered boards which use a gyroscope to navigate.

Riders can drive forward and backwards by leaning in the respective direction. Tipping one foot either forward or backwards allows the rider to turn.

The self balancing scooters are becoming increasingly popular in the UK

GETTY

The self balancing scooters are becoming increasingly popular in the UK

The boards, which have no universally accepted name, debuted in China but have become increasingly popular in the United States and UK after multiple celebrity appearances.The gadgets range in price from £300 to £800 and are illegal to use in public in the UK.

National Trading Standards has released some key advice to consumers –

Never leave the self-balancing scooter charging unattended, especially overnight
Check the shape of the plug, many of the seized boards had a clover-shaped mains plug.
Double-check the online reviews before buying. Look for information about the company’s head office as well as a landline number.
Buy from a trusted online retailer. Websites with spelling and grammatical errors can be an indication that the seller is not part of a professional operation.
Do not be dazzled by a bargain. Always question the price and if it looks too good to be true, it most likely is.

express.co.uk

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January 15, 2016 admin

News

This TERRIFYING video will put you off hoverboards for LIFE

A SHOCKING new video shows the exact moment a self-balancing board – dubbed hoverboard – ERUPTED into flames under the owners’ feet.

National Trading Standards has released some key advice to consumers –

Why Do Hoverboards Keep Exploding?

Are Hoverboards Dangerous?

How to buy a hoverboard that won’t catch fire

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