First off, I had no idea that there was such a thing as an electric skateboard. I’ve written about electric skates, electric bicycles,and electric scooters so I suppose it makes sense that somebody would come up with an electric skateboard. The Marbel Board is an electric skateboard that is apparently the lightest and thinnest skateboard in the world and is currently being funded on Kickstarter.
Weighing in at only 9.9 pounds, the Marbel Board is designed specifically to be light, fast, and very easy to use. What makes the Marbel Board special is that it can even achieve speeds of 20mph going uphill and can take you 10 miles on a single charge if not more. The electronics and batteries of the Marbel Board are integrated into the carbon fiber and kevlar deck and the skateboard can be connected to your smartphone so that you are able to fully customize your riding style and even control the throttle of the skateboard.
Marbel Board Promo Video
As mentioned, the deck is compromised of carbon fiber and kevlar, and it is only 30mm thick at its widest point. The batteries on skateboard will only take you 90 minutes to fully recharge the apparatus. This is the perfect device for short trips where going in the car is too much of a hassle and walking is not worth the trip although I do love going for walks. The Marbel Board is two years in the making thanks to a dedicated team of engineers and designers and utilizing modern technologies.
The Marbel Board uses a “state-of-the-art” Lithium-Ion battery which can be charged via a standard wall outlet. The system also uses a custom battery management system which keeps all the cells running at peak performance. The 20mph top speed seems a bit fast for a skateboard (for a newbie like myself) so the team uses a customizable app (iOS and Android) where you can adjust the settings.
In the smartphone app, there are three pre-defined ride modes although you do have full control over the top speed and acceleration. You are even able to control the throttle directly from your phone. The Starter Mode is recommended for someone who is inexperienced. This mode will only allow you to achieve a top speed of 6mph and accelerates at 25%.
The Eco Mode will make sure you get the maximum range by looking at your riding pattern to see how you ride and adjust settings by applying an algorithm to maximize battery usage. You should be able to get an additional mile from your standard riding style.
The Custom Mode gives you complete control of the acceleration level and allows you to adjust a top speed that you are comfortable with.
The Sport Mode will give you all the power available so you can hit those speeds of 20mph….uphill.
If you are uncomfortable using a phone while riding (I know I’d drop my phone), there is also a simple remote control which controls the throttle and braking. To move forward, simply push the slider on the remote control forward. The farther it gets pushed forward, the faster the rider will go. To coast, simply let go of the slider and it will spring back into its original position. Pulling the slider back will apply the brakes.
The Kickstarter goal of raising $90,000 is already complete but orders are still being taken until June 19, 2014. The early bird specials of $999 and $1,099 have already been purchased but you can still get your hands on the Marbel Board by contributing $1,199. For more details, check out the Kickstarter page.
