Business Standard

Soon, travel anywhere with an electrical skateboard

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Press Trust of India London

The Stanford University team behind the 'Boosted Board' said it could reach speeds of 20 mph and be used by tourists, commuters and for everyday getting around, the Daily Mail reported.

The Boosted Board prototype is built on a standard longboard, and weighs around 5 kilogrammes. Two brushless motors are used to drive the rear wheels, creating 2000 watts (2.6 horsepower).

Regenerative braking used to recharge the battery while moving. Lithium batteries which can be recharged in two hours, giving 9 kilometres of use.

The team recently launched a Kickstarter fund to build the gadget - and have already raised over USD 2,60,000 - more than double their initial aim.

 

The key to the board's success will be how light it is.

"Light is great for lots of reasons, like better handling and acceleration, but it also means unprecedented portability," the Boosted Board's Kickstarter page, said.

"Carry it into a classroom, through the lobby to your office, upstairs to your apartment, onto a bus, or even aboard an airplane," the makers said.

The team hopes to deliver the first finished products in May next year, and is already building working prototypes which will cost USD 1,199.

Over 700 people have already signed up via its funding site, where the firm is offering boards from the first batch.

  

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First Published: Sep 19 2012 | 4:05 PM IST

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