An Australian company Homescreen Media, came up with a fire resistant carry bag called Hovervault for safety storing of hazardous devices. This was introduced after numerous hoverboard-related fires and explosions that have made headlines in recent months.
The Hovervault bag helps prevent damage of properties from malfunctioning hoverboard batteries that might occur during the charging, transporting and storing of hoverboards. The Hovervault is made from fiber glass composite materials and can be used to store or transport the user's hoverboard. It can also be contained while it is in charge because the devices are known to burst into flames when it is plugged into a power supply source.
According to ANI News, Hovervault's James Stewart was inspired to make the bag after using similar products when transporting his own hobby drones. After knowing that many drones have lithium polymer batteries which are known to be unstable, Mr. Stewart purchased Lipo bags which are specialty fiberglass.
"The bags basically suffocate a fire and stop it from becoming a raging inferno," he said. Whereas if the meltdown happens while you're riding and actually "hovering", the Hovervault can't help you and it is best to run away. Stewart also states that, "You have to respect these batteries. They are lithium-ion batteries in the hoverboards. They are very small and very cheap and they are high output. It doesn't always work together."
The CNET reported that, the company notes in a FAQ said, "The Hovervault will help prevent further damage caused by a battery fire, not prevent a fire from happening." And thus, like a Spinal Tap drummer, the Hovervault is clear that the bag will not stop hoverboards from combusting. Hoverboard cannot be still taken on plane even with a Hovervault.
The Hovervault is available to preorder with international shipping from Australia which is set to start in by month of March. The preorder price for Hovervault costs AU$49.95 which is around $36. In a statement by Gizmag, Amazon stopped carrying many of the less expensive versions now made in China over planes. It has demanded that they be improved before it would be carried.
While no fatalities have been reported by hoverboards, there have been fire accidents endangering lives and destroying properties. During the last year 2015, news and reports of fire gained stream. According to a report by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, as on December 2015, there have been at least 40 hoverboard related fires in US alone. Earlier this year, a severe house fire accident in Australia was traced to have caused due to a hoverboard that was plugged in to charge.
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