Give Your Next City Stroll a Boost With These 3 Electric Skateboards
Over the past few years, electric motors have become smaller and more powerful to a point where they’ve become an integral part of all of our lives. With batteries becoming more power dense and accessible as we speak, we can say with certainty that we’re now officially stepped into the golden age of electric vehicles.
We can often see electric motorbikes, bicycles, scooters, cars, Segways, and Hoverboards all over the city these days, especially in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. Some shopping malls in Thailand have even started to adopt Segways for their staffs. These technologies help make our lives much easier regarding our daily commuting (just watch out for all the speeding motorcycles and broken sidewalks if you’re living in Bangkok!).
After all the types of electric rides that we’ve mentioned above, it wouldn’t right if we failed to mention the electric skateboard. The market for this technology has grown considerably over the last few years that quite some brands are currently in the race to design and produce the most practical board out there.
With prices ranging from the thousands up to the ten thousand, electric skateboards are really easy to find these days. Just pop by a skateboard shop in town or look for them online on the brand’s official websites or authorized resellers and you’ll be sure to get a hold of one.
If you happen to be looking for a boost the next time you navigate through the city, campus, or parks, we've got for you the three electric skateboards you might be interested in. They might not be able to help you perform a stunning Kick Flip or a McTwist, but they'll make traveling.
Riptide R1/R1 Elite
If you're into old-school skateboards and love the west coast vibes, but what to add an electrical assistance to your daily ride, the Riptide R1 and R1 Elite are what you're looking for. Other than the unique design unlike any other electric skateboards, the R1 (blue wheels) have a maximum range of 11.2 km after a single charge (a regular charging cycle takes about 3.5 hours, but there's also a "Fast Charger" option that can do the job in 90 minutes) and a top speed of 28.9 km/hour.
Meanwhile, the R1 Elite model comes with a 12.8 km range and a 32 km/hour top speed. It also comes with headlights, tail lights, and a major wheel upgrades to keep you safe on the road at all times.
Both models come with built-in handles for an easy grab-and-go function, not to mention being airline-friendly. The Kicktail on end gives you instantaneous control of the direction when you run into an unexpected bump or pothole. The boards measure up to only about 31 inches in length and weigh only 5.9 kg (R1) and 6.4 kg (R1 Elite).
You can find and order both boards through the official Riptide website today. The R1 model is priced at $599 or about 19,402 THB and the R1 Elite is priced at $729 or about 23,625 THB.
Boosted Mini S
Boosted have designed and built a number electric skateboards, but nothing beats the Mini S model for a grab-and-go experience. Whether you need to carry them onto buses and trains or need to store them under your desks, the 29.5 x 5.7 in frame and 6.8 kg weight make it convenient for those who are always on the move.
A single charge (1 hour and 15 minutes) will give you an 11.2 km range (roughly the distance from Siam to On Nut). The Mini S can go up to a top speed of 28.9 km/hour and take on hills and slopes (up to about 11-12 degrees tilt) without breaking a sweat.
The Mini S features a Deep Dish concave shape that provides more stability and control as well as a Kicktail that allows for quick pivoting and lets you “float” over road imperfections. The board also comes with an ergonomic and Bluetooth enabled remote that can control your speed, brakes, and ride modes (3 ride modes for beginners to pros).
If you’re looking for a compact electric skateboard that’s powerful, agile, and super portable, to use on your daily commute, then the Boosted Mini S should be one of your top options. It is priced at $749 or about 24,258 THB and can be quite high for its class, but still definitely a reliable and comfortable means of transportation that you should strongly consider.
Inboard M1
The Inboard M1 is a favorite of almost every top tech websites and blogs at the moment with some of them even saying that it is “the best electric skateboard currently available”. The top speed racks up to an exhilarating 35.4 km/hour and an 11.2 km range with a single charge. While the range isn’t as exciting as the top speed, the Inboard M1 features the world’s first truly swappable battery for an electric skateboard called the “PowerShift Battery” that can be swapped in seconds to double your range.
One of the favorite features of the pundits is the use of in-wheel electric motors over the regular belt-drive or gear system. This not only makes the board more responsive and the ride more fluid, but it also allows the wheels to spin freely when the motors aren’t engaged.
The Inboard Vision App also allows you to remotely check your M1’s status (battery level, ride mode, etc.) and control the throttle without the remote. The board has also integrated red-white LED nose and tail lights (also can be controlled by the app) keeps the drivers and pedestrians alerted about your presence.
The Inboard M1 might not be as portable as the Boosted Mini S given its larger 37.5 x 10.25 in deck but makes up for it with its surprisingly lighter 6.5 kg weight. If you’re in the market for what many claims is one of the best electric skateboards, then you’ll need to dish out $999 or about 32,344 THB for it.