Self-balancing scooter

This article is about compact two-wheeled self-balancing devices often referred to as hoverboards. For other self-balancing scooters, see Personal transporter § Self-balancing scooter. For self-levitating boards in science-fiction, see Hoverboard.
A self-balancing scooter (hoverboard)

A self-balancing scooter (also hoverboard, self-balancing board, segway,[1] swegway or electric scooter board) is a self-balancing personal transporter consisting of two motorized wheels connected to a pair of articulated pads on which the rider places their feet. The rider controls the speed by leaning forward or backward, and direction of travel by twisting the pads.

Invented in its current form in early 2013, the device is the subject of complex patent disputes. Volume manufacture started in China in 2014 and early units were prone to catching fire due to an overheating battery which resulted in product recalls in 2016, including over 500,000 units sold in the United States by eight manufacturers. There have been 23 official recalls since 2016, affecting around 1,115,200 units in total.[2]

  1. ^ Williams, Zoe (2015-10-16). "Move over cars, the Swegway is here. Or it would be if it wasn't illegal". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  2. ^ Rasmus Barslund (23 January 2024). "Full list of U.S. hoverboard recalls". ERideHero.