Feds Say Popular Hoverboards Are Not Safe

Eli Cohen is 18-years-old. He's been riding hoverboards since they came out in June and selling them online for 6 months on his website FutureHUVR.com. During that time, he claims that not one that he's sold has caught fire like we've seen in videos from all around the country.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is now getting tough on board makers, importers and sellers. After months of testing, the CPSC has deemed that no hoverboard currently on the market is safe. In a letter it just sent out it says hoverboards pose an unreasonable risk of fire to consumers.

In its letter, the commission said there were 52 reports of fires from hoverboards in 24 different states that caused 2 million dollars worth of damage. That included two homes and an automobile.

Under the new guidelines, the Commission says….

Cohen calls that harsh. He says, "52 hoverboards were blown up right? When you compare and contrast that with the 2.5 million scooters that were brought in overseas... that's kind of a small number."

He also says the Federal crackdown doesn't surprise him because he thought they "were going to go towards that anyway."

If there is one thing Cohen really values it's that people believe what he is selling is safe.

He says "FutureHUVR components are UL listed" even if the boards as a whole are not. That's what the Feds are trying to change. Cohen adds that "FutureHUVR carries all required safety documents including MSDS and UN38.3 which is required to transport by air." He says there is much in the way of safety information on his website. "We want a safe product and that's what we're going to work toward," says Cohen who applauds the move by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.