Boosted Boards: Electric skateboard carries you up hills
Skateboarding down hills has always been a lot more fun than going up -- until now. The Boosted Boards electric skateboard glides up inclines with grades as steep as 15 percent.
Boosted Boards is promoting its electric-powered skateboard as the world's lightest electric vehicle. The Kickstarter project packs 2.6 horsepower onto a 12-pound longboard.
The skateboard is powered by lithium batteries, giving the rider up to 6 miles of range. It takes two hours to fully recharge the batteries and manages a top speed of 20mph. Regenerative braking helps the battery along when you're riding.
The skateboard works with a handheld remote control with a throttle, brake, and battery gauge. The remote is designed to tuck a finger through so you can hang onto it even while doing ollies.
If you manage to drain the battery, the board will still roll, it will just be a bit more resistant than a regular skateboard.
Of course, an electric skateboard will set you back quite a few more dollars than a regular, totally human-powered one. The board pledges start at $1,099, with a regular price of $1199.
Still, the compact design, decent range, and good power make this a pretty sweet leap forward in super-portable electric transportation.
