Amazon drops hoverboards amid safety fears

THEY may be high on Christmas lists but e-commerce giant Amazon is pulling the sale of hoverboards — and not because people may fall off them.

E-COMMERCE giant Amazon has dropped the sale of almost every model of hoverboard in the US because of the potential fire danger from the lithium-ion batteries that power the devices.

The UK version of the site has banned the sale of all of the devices.

The move comes just days after the three largest US airlines banned the two-wheel scooters in checked or carry-on luggage.

A number of the motorised boards, which were inspired by a device in the film Back to the Future II and III, have burst into flames while charging.

At least 10 reports of hoverboard fires in nine US states are being investigated by a federal agency.

The instigator ... The hoverboard concept was made famous in the film Back to the Future II, starring Michael J Fox.

The company had a huge selection of the self-balancing scooters up until last Friday when it removed 97 per cent of the products from its digital shelves, according to one manufacturer, Swagway.

“As safety is on the forefront for Swagway, we applaud Amazon for taking these steps to weed out the low quality boards and want to note that this removal is NOT specific to Swagway, but includes 97 per cent of the other branded hoverboards that were also selling on there,” Swagway said in a statement to US media.

The UK version of Amazon has pulled the sale of all hoverboards. It comes after the National Trading Standards office confiscated 15,000 of them at ports and airports since October over concerns about cheap and dangerous imitations.

Last week, the largest US airlines banned hoverboards over their fire risk.

American Airlines Group, United Continental Holdings and Delta Air Lines each said on Thursday they are banning hoverboards starting this week in carry-on and checked baggage out of safety considerations. JetBlue Airways has already prohibited them.

The International Air Transport Association has recommended that self-balancing scooters be carried only in cabin baggage, but it remains up to each airline to decide their exact policy.

The changes in carriers’ baggage policy also coincided with comments from the top global airline association that addressed hoverboard hazards.

Celebrity touch ... Members of Justice Crew show off their skills with the Skywalker hoverboards.

Earlier this year, police in Britain warned people it was illegal to ride the devices on public roads and pavements, meaning people must stick to their own private land to try them.

Britain’s National Trading Standards said this month 88 per cent of 17,000 self-balancing scooters examined at UK entry points were deemed to be unsafe, with an increased risk of overheating, exploding or catching fire.