Most-wanted Christmas toys 'hoverboards' are spontaneously combusting
'Hoverboards' are predicted to be one of the hottest items this Christmas – and with good reason.
Some of the two-wheeled, gyroscopic, miniature Segways are prone to catch fire.
Last month NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay admitted he was being a reluctant "Christmas Grinch" for banning the tiny vehicles over safety concerns.
"Hoverboards are the hot ticket item on many Christmas wishlists, but we need shoppers to keep safety front of mind before they put their money down," he said.
"I don't want to be the Christmas Grinch, but I want people to know and send a message that these new toys have real safety concerns."
The minister was concerned about an "unprotected" child possibly falling over or having a fatal run in with a much-larger vehicle.
But his concern seems prescient now that stories of the vehicles' spontaneous combustions are emerging.
Alabama man Timothy Cade nearly became a burns victim when his brand-new hoverboard exploded under his feet.
"I walked out my door, turned hoverboard on, rode a few feet and the first explosion happened kind of threw me off that board, but caught myself before I hit ground," he said.
Mr Cade filmed the flames, but Los Angeles resident Jessica Horne did not catch the fire that started in her home when her 12-year-old son's hoverboard caught fire after just one day.
"It was like fireworks [in] the middle part of the board - just poof," Ms Horne said.
Both vehicles were bought on Amazon where they sell for up to $900, made by numerous, unheard-of brands.
Part of the problem with the boards' propensity to catch fire might come from the vehicle's schematics being copied, leading to their cheap, mass-production in factories in China, as NPR's Planet Money explored.
So if you still plan on buying one of the boards for Christmas, try to go with a reputable brand.
News break – December 2
