Ethernet, I'm not entirely sure if you're just winding up or whether you're serious, but I'll respond like you're serious...
Define Dangerous. After all, some of these brands carry CE markings and the like.
Do you understand the CE mark? If so, then I'm sure you realise there is no protection offered by the CE mark. That is purely a money making scheme in which the vast majority of cases offers no guarantee that any standards are complied with, nor that a product is safe.
Some have fuse and manual breaker switches (but probably not most of the cheapies).
And these protect from fire, how?
Are skateboards also banned? Looking at crime numbers people being king hit with fists is more likely than being donged with a skateboard or umbrella.
Why does this comment relate to fires aboard aircraft? Were the thugs riding skateboards and brandishing umbrellas also armed with blow torches? I must admit, in my limited (over 100 flights a year) experience, I've never yet come face to face with a skateboarding, umbrella toting thug with a blow torch sidearm. Which airline do you fly? I'll be sure to give them a wide berth.
So they are dangerous, even though not one has ever caught fire - sort of like iphones through the post, and all the gazillions of laptops taken aboard. - no evidence behind the assumption.
Now I'm the first to admit that I really despise the drivel that is professed to be news, but even a jaded newsreader like me struggles to deny the recent multiple reports (with video evidence) of these "hover" boards with wheels catching fire. Have you really missed the reports, or do you discredit them as phoney? On a similar note, I struggle to recall just one report of an iPhone or laptop catching fire.
I am pretty certain electric wheelchairs go into the hold. And probably have a bigger battery. I suppose, like guns, the gun people could allow 'safed' hoverboards aboard.
What type of battery does an electric wheelchair have? How many can you state categorically, have caught fire without fanfare?
Breaking down outrageous fears, a bigger battery is not needed. Bigger batteries are harder to flush down the toilet. Those scatter scanners should be able to tell the difference between wet acid cell and lithium.
OK, this is a bit out of left field.......are they flushing them down the toilet to put the fire out? Without the battery sized for the task, Russ might run out of puff before he's arrived! But you're right, how about you ask the manufacturers of these boards to put in a few triple A's.....that'll work!
I suspect the real reason is some MIGHT be used to conceal something bad - but I do not know the x ray profile. But water is already identifiable = yet water is you know, dangerous too.
So the fact we can take up to 32kgs per checked bag doesn't deter you from this remark? I'm pretty sure I could fit more of "something bad" in my checked luggage than in a battery pack for a hover board.
More likely airports don't want kids doing wheelies or zooming at top speed to the gates, or seeing pax get off and hovering past the rip-off transport area, and catching public transport off the airport premises. I can imagine a drunk pax crashing into the duty free area. In fact business people zooming past the duty free shops not buying anything would be a financial danger. Airlines don't want lots of 6kg or more things sucking down fuel and increasing takeoff weight. Airports don't want tricky things to slow down security theatre- strollers are bad enough.
Does VA and QF own the duty free areas?
Charging a hoverboard - could lead to a fire, I agree many Chinese chargers are flat out unsafe - and that the ACCC and the state electrical regulations are a joke. Discharging should never cause a fire IF designed properly. Any same govt that wants to protect its trade balance SHOULD be doing a few exploratory tests and shaming the rubbish and teaching importers to lift their game.
We're not talking about charging (which is an issue for lithium), rather the uncontrolled discharge causing overtemperature and fire. The regulatory authorities struggle to keep up with dodgy imports at the best of times, how the hang can they monitor and test every appliance that hits our shore? They rely on independent testing to a recognised standard, however new trinkets like this don't have a specialised standard, forcing them back to AS 3820. It's not perfect, but better than none, but when did that ever absolve the manufacturer from their obligations to supply a safe product?
Bosche and AEG found bribery in the QC department where lesser quality insulation was used to shave cents.
So do Bosch and AEG make hover boards? Seems both companies referenced, found the issues and corrected the problems. Anyone who have dealt with China is fully aware that China can produce the highest quality equipment........and the poorest quality equipment, and they don't particular care which. It depends on the negotiation at the time........or more correctly, the amount of remittance per piece!
