Electricity is the future of transportation, and in recent years we saw this being implemented when it comes to vehicles, bikes and even skateboards. Companies like Boosted and Evolve skateboards are currently putting electrical skateboards forward more and more, and while the majority of people still prefer the traditional method of skateboarding, the rise in popularity of e-boards has been tremendous. While the former brand has highly expensive products that just work well, the latter offers the best bang for the buck skateboards.
Series
GTR
Both the bamboo and carbon skateboards of the GTR series aren’t meant for complete beginners, but if you are a surfer or a snowboarder this line of skateboards will feel the most familiar to you. Even if you have ridden less powerful e-boards before, the GTR series evolve skateboards will be a step up into the world of mid-to-high-end performance electric skateboards.
This e-board series offers a range of 48km and can reach top speed of 40kmh whilst allowing you to climb up hills with a 16.8° slant which calculates to a hill grade of 30%. Unlike your usual e-board battery the one on the GTR series will allow you to reach top speeds throughout the majority of its capacity since it pulls the same amount of power all the way down to 3%.
GTX
This series of evolveskateboards is made to provide excellent all-around performance as well as uphill power which is available thanks to the 50kmh top speed and the 3000-watt dual brush motor. What also enables this e-board to climb up hills in such a breeze is the fact that it has a lightweight, yet durable construction.
GT
The specialty of these evolveskateboards is that they can be used on all kinds of terrain since they come with two sets of tires that allow you to use the board both in the city and on off-road terrain. What’s also great about this series is that it can keep the same speed even on grass or dirt, which is the standard 40kmh found on most evolve boards. These boards give you a range of 19 km.
Bamboo
If you want to get an electrical longboard, this series of evolveskateboards is the one and it offers a 30kmh range backed by a 2000 watt battery which may not be the same as the one on the GTX but it still lasts pretty long since the boards in this lineup are pretty lightweight. Since this is a longboard there is plenty of room for you to stretch out and go on a comfortable ride.
Factors
Waterproof
Yeah, electricity and water don’t go well together so this is a mandatory aspect with any electrical skateboard no matter where you are going to ride it. While water won’t halt your skateboard in place as soon as it gets in contact with it, it will surely hinder its performance and cause issues with the teeth in the pulley system. An e-board with an IP rating greater than 65 is what you should look for.
Battery
Most e-boards nowadays will use from 10 to 15 watt-hours per kilometre but if you are a heavier person, let’s say above 90kg, this is going to reduce the work of the drivetrain which will give you an even worse performance. This is why you need to look for a skateboard with a battery which will offer you a riding time of at least 1 hour and a range of 32km.
Portability
A longer board doesn’t necessarily mean a heavy one but in order to have a stable ride, it needs to have a little bit of weight to it. If your commute isn’t long and if you make a lot of stops on the way back home, getting a smaller e-board is definitely the better option since they usually weigh around 7kg. But if your commute takes much longer and you want to enjoy the ride as much as possible go with a heavier 11kg board which usually comes in around one-metre long.
Modularity
Just like changing the oil on your car, e-boards need to be serviced from time to time. Things don’t get as messy as with mechanical parts since everything is electronically controlled which makes it less of a hassle when you want to do it yourself. This is why you should look for an e-board that is somewhat modular allowing you to fix simple things by yourself – this will allow you to learn more about the inner workings of your board.
Wheels
There are two types of wheels – clone and generic, with the former being unbranded and the latter branded wheels. The unbranded wheels, whilst being cheaper, don’t give the same performance, as they will chip and disintegrate, reducing mileage which is a dangerous option in the long run. Generic wheels will provide you with the best mileage, a longer lifespan and better speed.