Boosted Board suspends sales and shipping of V2 Boards due to potential safety issue

There was a post on reddit last week where there was a report of a battery cell venting (rupturing/exploding in a contained manner). Sanjay (the CEO) promptly flew directly out to the customer to investigate.

I can't find the post anymore, but IIRC the customer disposed of the battery pack and so it couldn't be examined.

Fast forward a week later, it seems there's been a second report of a battery cells venting within the fire retardant battery enclosure.

Boosted have published a post on their blog and emailed their customers advising them to stop riding and charging their V2 boards due to a potential safety issue.

Two updates published yesterday:

Important Battery Information - Boosted Boards

Sanjay investigating incident two:
Photo credit to rickbross on Reddit




I didn't want to create a post after the first incident, and was hoping it was and isolated incident. However unfortunately that doesn't look like it's the case and I think this issue has the potential to have a longer term impact on e-boarding as a whole depending on how things pan out. As such, I feel it's worth discussing.


I have an active pre-order open for a Boosted V2 as I want a lightweight commuter board. The Boosted V2 is 12% lighter than the Bamboo GT street, plus I wanted to see how they compare.

My board was due to ship in the next couple of weeks and I will probably miss my window of opportunity to get one now, as they still don't ship to the UK and it should have arrived during a trip to the US this month.

What concerns me most about this, is if the issue turns out to be greater than two isolated incidents, at what point will the airlines take a stance and begin to ban them? Even if they technically conform to the airline requirements, the airlines are well within their right to ban specific items as they did with the Note 7. Some have even known to already prevent riders from bringing their Boosted Boards on board. Namely there was the incident where Casey Neistat had his Boosted board confiscated when leaving Australia last month. If they end up getting banned, that's a massive USP for the board out of the window.

Further to that, it could have an knock on impact on the uptake and acceptance of electric skateboarding as a whole and recognition as viable, safe, acceptable and encouraged personal electric vehicle and last mile device for commuters around the world. Look what happened when the segway hoverboards started catching fire and ended up in the mainstream media for all the wrong reason.

I do truly feel for Boosted and their team at this time. I wouldn't wish an issue like this upon any electric skateboard company. I've made my stance clear on other threads that I think competition is healthy for a thriving marketplace and to spur innovation within an industry, so I really hope they come out the other side of this soon resolving the issue swiftly, and relatively unscathed and I hope no one gets hurt if any more incidents do arise. It seems their fire retardant enclosure is doing a good job of this so far.

It's my understanding that this isn't the first time an electric skateboard company has had battery issues, including Evolve, and no e-boarding company is without flaws, whether it's battery issues, or other mechanical or design issues. So try to refrain from posting about how one company is the best or perfect. Factual information and recounts of any experience with issues like this are welcome though.

So what are peoples thoughts on what the issue might be?
Freak accidents?
Batter QC issues?
BMS issues?
Too high density of battery for the small enclosure?
The battery too tight within the enclosure putting too much pressure on the cells?


Will this have an impact on e-boarding and if so, what impact could this situation have if more cases arise?

Does this course of events turn you off from ever buying a Boosted Board or are you encouraged by their proactiveness in halting sales and immediately informing their customers of the situation?

If you own a Boosted V2, will you stop charging and using it as advised or continue to use it until more information is forthcoming?


NOTE: Please don't turn this thread into any kind of competitor bashing. Remember personal attacks and aggressive messages are against the site rules, any messages containing such content directed at any company, their employees or other members of this site is unacceptable.

Keep the discussion civil and constructive.

PS: I hope Evolve US has lots of boards due for delivery in time for Christmas!

 

A theory from electric-skateboard.builders member Pantologist suggests it could possibly be a BMS issue.

 

Dude you do realize the a boosted V2 will work out approx £500 more than a bamboo GT in the UK once you add in shipping and import?tax??!! if you cant sling a bamboo GT street under your arms you need to get down the Gym!!

 

Shipping to a US address and bringing back with me in person knocks the 20% VAT and import off mate, but yes, point taken

Brexit's astonishing devaluation of the pound completely screwed up my initial savings calculations anyway.

Sure, I could sling the BGT under my arms, but it's still over 1kg heavier. That's like an entire bag of sugar mate. I'm sweet enough as it is without having to worry about sweetening myself up and carrying the extra weight

I need the lightest and most compact board possible to bring on the overcrowded southwestern rush hour trains without getting kicked off for not having a 'foldable bike'.

 

ya big girls blouse

 

That previous post was not very constructive mate. I'm aware I'm a big girl's blouse and there was no need to make a big deal of it. As such, any more reference's to me being a big girls blouse will be deleted. Please stay on topic.

 

That...was...beautiful!

 

Merged with other Boosted Battery thread

 

Article interviewing one of the chaps, whose Boosted Board vented.

http://gizmodo.com/we-talked-to-the-guy-whose-boosted-board-blew-up-1788560954

 

Latest blog post, sales still suspended and they're carrying out forensic analysis on the one recovered battery pack.

https://boostedboards.com/boosted-battery-update/

 

They've figured it out. A poor waterproof seal and electronic sealant caused water to get trapped causing a short circuit.

They're working on an improved sealing material and improving their quality control. But still advise your refrain from riding your board for now.

 

Well, my Boosted Board order is cancelled. Missed my window while in America. Shame really as I was looking forward to giving it a go. Maybe when V3 comes out.

Went and ordered one of the tiny Acton Blink S boards instead to have a bit of fun with when nipping to the shops and taking busy commuter trains. Hopefully Evolve will do a compact and lightweight board soon. Hint hint

 

Yeah, wondering if I should have gone for the S2 instead. Price has gone up a bit now. Slightly hesitant to kickstarter any eboard, but they seem to already have a couple of boards under their belt.

2017 is going to be a big year for eskating what with the new Enertion Raptor and Acton's new line up.

I wonder if Evolve has any kind of hub motor board in the pipeline. Would be cool to be able to ditch the motors on the back. Saw a vid doing some really tight kick turns on a narrow path the other day, can't remember what board it was though.

 

Some more updates from Boosted.

It seems more delays are on the cards, no Boosted in time for the holidays and they're still recommending you don't ride your boards.

Quick Update - Boosted Boards

Timeline Update - Boosted Boards

Sanjay also did an AMA on reddit to address some questions from the community.