The Vergecast Version History: Hoverboards
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Oct 5, 2025 
Join technology reporters Andrew Hawkins and Sean O’Kane as they delve into the fascinating world of hoverboards. They explore the chaotic rise of this self-balancing craze, from its origin stories and celebrity endorsements to the alarming safety issues that led to its downfall. Discover the strange phenomenon of knockoffs, and why the term 'hoverboard' persists despite their lack of levitation. The discussion takes a humorous turn as they ponder if companies like Apple could have saved the hoverboard's reputation and if it could ever make a comeback!
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Catalyst For Last‑Mile Craze
- Hoverboards triggered a last‑mile mobility obsession and inspired many other short‑range electric devices.
- They became a cultural symbol of the moment when small motors and cheaper batteries felt transformative.
Two Competing Origin Stories
- Shane Chen patented and Kickstarted a two-platform self‑balancing vehicle called Hover Tracks in 2013 and shipped units to backers.
- Chic Robotics later produced a visually similar self‑balancing scooter in 2014 that flooded the market and sparked knockoffs and litigation.
China Factory Flooded The Market
- Chic Robotics showed a Smart S1 self‑balancing scooter at a Chinese trade show in August 2014 that quickly spread via distributors.
- Those factory-made units became the template for many identical knockoff brands sold worldwide.