Or eskateboarding, as the kids say.
Dont know your truck from your deck?
Well, this guide will get you started.
In fact, much of the information comes from eskaters themselves, who kindly shared their knowledge with me.
What is an electric skateboard and how do they work?
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There are also corresponding apps to track metrics such as distance traveled and battery life.
The remote control functionality removes the need to kick-push or use your foot on the ground to break.
Whats the speed and range like?
Some skaters will hack their boards to make them go faster.
Technically those ranges are achievable, but you should always compare Esk8 range by battery size.
Rule of thumb is ~15Wh/mi at 24 kmpm (15mph) with skate wheels.
Riding faster than 4lkmph (25mph) can make that jump to over 25wh/mi.
Charging a skateboard generally takes about 2 or 3 hours.
How the hell do I stop?
Unlike normal skateboarding you dont need to put your foot down to cease moving.
This can cause the equipment to turn off the braking function.
A few skateboards come with both regenerative and dynamic brakes installed in the same unit.
Confused?Heresa great explainer of the science of braking in more detail.
Are electric skateboards legal?
Where can I ride them?
Goverment representatives make many local decisions without involving the communities for which the laws represent eskaters themselves.
Laws are confusing and complex
Laws also relate to the speed of the eskateboard.
Helpful resources
Piqued your interest in giving eskateboarding a try?
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Story byCate Lawrence
Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin.
