In this review of the Powerboard hoverboard, we’ll look at the pros and cons of this self-balancing scooter.
Pros of the Powerboard
The Powerboard is Underwriters Laboratory certified to meet the UL 2272 standard that came out after the first generation of hoverboards caught fire after charging or initial use. The Powerboard automatically shuts off after it has fully charged to avoid the sparking that caused some hoverboards to ignite. This self balancing scooter is safe to give to your children and grandchildren without the worry that it’ll catch fire on first use. One of the benefits of this unit is that if you charge it today, it holds its charge for several days if it isn’t ridden much.
The standard version of this hoverboard comes with electric LED lights so that the rider is visible to traffic.
The unit’s size is perfect for standard hoverboard carry bags. You don’t have to buy a branded scooter carry bag with this unit. At 26 pounds, it is slightly lighter than average.
Some hoverboards can’t handle more than 200 pounds; this one can handle riders up to 250 pounds.
Cons of the Powerboard
You don’t get an extra battery pack with this hoverboard, and you can’t buy one separately. The unit does come with a charging cable.
The self balancing scooter is good for smooth floors and sidewalks. You need to go slow over cracks unless you want to risk a spinout. Don’t try to drive it over anything like sticks. Don’t take it “off-road”. It doesn’t handle gravel or dirt well, and riding it through puddles or mud risks ruining it. It handles moderately well on grass as long as the surface isn’t wet.
This unit isn’t as smooth and gentle as some of its rivals.
Observations
The Powerboard has a thousand dollar list price but is regularly found for four hundred dollars on sale.
Its top speed of 6.2 miles per hour (10 km/hr) makes this model a good choice for new and younger riders who you don’t want trying to do tricks at ten miles per hour.
It comes with a limited one year warranty; one of the perks of the company being based in the United States is that they actually honor the warranty and don’t charge you international shipping to return it for repair.
Charge it fully before first use and charge it completely between uses to avoid problems with the battery “memory” resetting at a lower level than “full”. Constant usage after you’ve only half charged the battery can cause it to be unable to fully charge past the half way point.
If the battery never holds a charge, return it as soon as the problem is diagnosed. One indicator of this is that the green light never comes on when you try to charge it before first use. While the manufacturer has a one year limited warranty, the manufacturer may say you have to return it within a month of buying it through a website or retailer to get a refund. And the manufacturer warranty does not cover wear and tear or damage due to mistakes like riding it through a puddle and then saying the battery doesn’t work.
Summary
This basic hoverboard has a steep list price but on sale costs as little as many of its mid-market rivals. You get a good basic self balancing scooter for inside and out as long as you give it a smooth surface to run on.
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