How Do Electric Skateboards Work?

By Alex Olson

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Updated on February 24, 2023

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By Alex Olson
Published on June 17, 2016

How do electric skateboards work? Believe it or not, they actually function in much the same way as the more traditional skateboards, with one big difference. You aren’t propelling them yourself. Instead, you are a passenger on something that can carry you as fast as 25 miles per hour.

Obviously, the most important thing that you have to remember is that anything that can travel that fast is capable of doing a lot of damage to your body if you crash while you are on it. Therefore, you have to give electric skateboards the respect they deserve. It is definitely a good idea to start out slowly and then work your way up to the faster speeds when you know for sure that you are ready to do so. Of course, you should also use the proper safety equipment whenever you are riding.

Understanding How They Work

In order for you to truly operate one of these skateboards safely, the most important thing you can do is understand how they work. You might be surprised to learn that the first electric skateboards were actually produced in the seventies. Furthermore, they looked surprisingly like a traditional skateboard until you picked them up to look underneath, where you could see the portion of the skateboard that contained the battery and electric motor. Today’s skateboards look much sleeker and attractive, but they operate in much the same way. However, there is one big difference.

The first electric skateboards actually had wires that would run from the control module to the skateboard itself. Obviously, this was inconvenient and at times, downright dangerous. Today’s models are wireless. They all have an electric motor that is driven by a lithium battery. Different skateboards have different batteries in them. Depending on the size of the battery, most of the skateboards are capable of going anywhere from ten to twelve miles in range. While some have move as fast as 25 miles per hour, other top out around 15 miles per hour.

Some skateboards incorporate a much larger battery which dramatically increases their range. The most important thing to remember is that because these skateboards are wireless, it is much easier for them to go wherever you want to go because you are no longer tethered by a cord.

As far as operating one goes, you do so in much the same way that you would ride a traditional skateboard. The difference is that you are not pushing off with your foot, but merely riding. Make no mistake about it, riding an electric skateboard is not necessarily easier. In fact, it requires a great deal of skill to handle something that is capable of going so fast. That is why anyone that decides to use one should do so with the proper amount of caution.

For a seasoned individual who knows how to ride skateboards well, they can be a lot of fun when pushed to their extremes. For other individuals, it is better to refrain from making them go as fast as possible and get used to operating them safely first.

Read More Articles:

How to Ride an Electric Skateboard

About the Author

Written by Alex Olson 

Alex is an outdoor enthusiast and adrenaline junkie. Born and raised in Omaha, NE he had to actively seek out fun things to do. This led to his love for extreme sports (skateboarding, wakeboarding, skiing, etc.). Anything with a board or wheels he rode it. He lived in Maine as a wakeboarding instructor, in Breckenridge, CO as a ski lift operator, and currently resides in a small town south of Denver. Alex combined his love for micro-mobility and his day job in digital marketing to create this niche website.

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