EXCLUSIVE:$798 Harvey Norman Hoverboard Banned

Last night the UK Crown Prosecution Service banned the same hoverboard that is being imported by Melbourne based distributor Kaiser Baas from being used on public roads, however it can be used on private land. 

Two months ago SmartHouse and ChannelNews got an exclusive preview of the new device at the offices of Kaiser Bass, at the time Evan Kourambas the CEO of Kaiser Baas told ChannelNews that he was “concerned that users could make a claim” on the Company if someone got hurt falling off the Segway-inspired wheeled vehicle.


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NSW Authorities that ChannelNews have spoken to have said that they are concerned and will investigate the device.  

Currently Harvey Norman is advertising the $798 Kaiser Baas Revo Glider as being available in Late October.

The device which has a top speed of 12m/h and a 20 km range before the batteries give out delivers “intuitive self-balancing using high grade sensors”. 

According to  Kourambas his Company sought and got approval to import the device from the Federal Department of Infrastructure.

“The device we are bringing into Australia is nor designed for Australian roads or pavements. It has rubber wheeels and not pneumatic tyres that are designed to go over kerbs. In London recently we were sitting in a pub when a person rode past on one of these devices. On a second pass he fell off. In the ones we are importing to Australia we are reccomending indoor use and for children 14 years and older”.  

In the UK The Crown Prosecution Service has released new guidance that forbids the use of self-balancing scooters on UK streets and pavements.

“Vehicles must be approved via ECWVTA or MSVA in order to be licensed and registered. Self-balancing scooters would not currently meet the requirements of these schemes so are not legal for road use,” reads the new CPS guidance.

It continues: “It is an offence under section 72 of the Highway Act 1835 to ride or drive a vehicle on the pavement.”
Users can ride the scooters on private property or inside a building. 

“You can only ride an unregistered self-balancing scooter on land which is private property and with the landowner’s permission,” explains the UK, CPS.

Apparently bicycles are covered by different rules to those applying to self-balancing scooters. 

In the UK Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles must meet the requirements of the Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles Regulations 1983. 

Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles that conform to these regulations are considered to be pedal cycles and as such are allowed to use cycle facilities such as cycle lanes on the road and cycle tracks away from the road which other powered vehicles are prohibited from using.”

In May 2012, the federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport amended the definition for power assisted pedal cycles (PAPCs) in the Australian Design Rules to allow for pedalecs, which are a form of electric bicycle that complies with the European Standard EN 15194. All jurisdictions have either already changed their legislation to accommodate pedalecs or are in the process of doing so. 

The amendment was in response to public demand for better, ‘greener’ vehicles.

The team investigating the issue were advised Transport NSW who recently issued new regulations regarding the use of powered pedalecs.