North American society revolves around the car, but that never made sense. If we recognize and decry the gross waste of energy in hauling around a ton of metal wherever we go, then a skateboard is the ultimate response: four wheels and a small platform to stand on, which is even less weight than a bike and, because you stand sideways on a board, has less wind resistance.
Electric skateboards have been around since 1997 and can be as little as $300. Some are operated with a hand-held wireless throttle and brake system, which can take some getting used to. Other powered skateboards operate via weight sensors, which provide hands-free control. When you lean forward or backward, sensors detect the compression of the skateboard’s deck. These signals tell the wheel motors to accelerate or to brake regeneratively. Energy that is consumed in the process of braking is fed back into the batteries.
Earlier power boards used lead batteries and then NiMH batteries. The latest versions use lighter and slimmer lithium batteries recessed into the underside of the board, which means a slick build that, at first glance, looks like any non-electric longboard.
Habits need to change, but change is inevitable and we learn to adapt. Most experienced boarders will kick the pavement by habit. That weight shift can confuse the weight sensors, but soon they will be programmed to detect this motion and revert to a pre-determined constant speed. Roller skaters know how easy one small rock can throw them for a tumble; because longboard wheels are wider, you don’t have to worry about small rocks.
If you’re already comfortable in traffic on a skateboard, you’ll soon be comfortable on a power board. Careful, though—they’re almost silent. Bicyclists and drivers won’t expect you to travel so fast with such little effort. Keep to the lower power levels until you’re accustomed to the feel, but, regardless, e-boards will not keep accelerating up to more dangerous speeds. With the electric motor, an electric longboard handles like you’re always going downhill, so it’s similar to downhill snowboarding. Happy trails!