Skateboards are great for exercise and breaking arms, but they’re not ideal as a form of transportation if you’re going long distances. Ultimately, kicking yourself along on a board isn’t the most efficient way to get around. A group of engineers and skaters are looking to change that however with a simple electric motor that easily attaches to your pre-existing board. That’s right, it’s time for a motorized skateboard.
The Eon Board uses low-drag in-wheel motors and a replaceable battery pack to keep things simple and efficient. Users charge their battery via USB and can control the motor via a special remote or smart-phone app. With a top speed of about 22 MPH the Eon is even suitable for commuting, provided you’re the sort of skater who can handle those speeds around traffic. It’s probably a good idea to wear plenty of pads.
Designed by the crew at Unlimited Engineering, Eon is currently raising funding on Kickstarter, but has already met the $110,662 goal with over a week left in the campaign. As of now they sit at $262,150 raised, so they’ve obviously earned the attention of members of the skating community. If the system has any obvious downsides it’s that this board is strictly for commuting and traveling, and not for tricks. We’d hate to see someone grind a rail only to discover they destroyed their battery.
You can watch a demo of Eon below or head over to their Kickstarter to try and get in on the action.
