We are in the midst of a transportation revolution, and electric transit seems to be the wave of the future. We have had electric cars around for awhile now, and over the last few years electric bikes have taken off, but the latest trend everyone seems to be talking about is the electric skateboard. As of recently, electric skateboards have slowly worked their way onto college campuses, into city streets, and into just about every other urban location you can think of.
Completely machine powered and controlled by a remote or an app on a smartphone, the beauty of electric skateboards is that they make up for what traditional boards lack.
On an electric skateboard, kicking and pushing are now things of the past. With some reaching speeds of up to 25 miles per hour, these devices have the ability to provide faster commute times than a traditional skateboard. They also allow skateboarders to travel uphill, and on new terrain that they may not have been able to before. Many electric skateboards are also equipped with safety brakes so riders never have to worry about losing control of their board.
Aside from all the cool features, electric skateboards are also cost-efficient. The running price for an electric board right now can range anywhere from $100 to $1500 which is not bad, when you compare it to the various costs that can come along with driving.
With all this buzz about electric skateboards being the next big thing, the one question I found myself asking was, “are these things just another fad, or are they here to stay?”
After doing a little research and even trying out a few, I can confidently say that electric skateboards will not be going anywhere anytime soon. With the ability to have a direct impact on the transportation industry, I actually predict their popularity to skyrocket.
The electric skateboard trend has generated a lot of public attention, creating a race among companies to see who will create the best board. Right now there are a variety of electronic skateboards on the market.
Some that simulate a scooter like the Inmotion T3,
Some that are new creations all of their own like the Onewheel+,
And some that even allow you to transform your traditional skateboard deck into a unique electric skateboard of its own like The Mellow Drive.
Now there have been a few concerns with electric skateboards and customers trust in product safety. As of recently, there have been a couple of companies that have had to recall their boards due to fire hazards. Having watched the whole “hoverboard” fiasco unravel last year, it’s understandable that many people are concerned with the potential risks of electric skateboards doing the same thing.
Though there may be a bit of apprehension around electric skateboards, I believe that the interest outweighs the concerns. There’s definitely a growing demand for these boards, and as their popularity continues to increase, I think the public will continue to become more comfortable with having them around.
I’m actually quite interested in seeing the direction electric skateboards will go. I don’t know about you, but I find the possibility of a world with fewer cars and more boards on the road quite exciting.
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