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The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

kickstarter.com

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Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#141

Post by qbit »

Tloewald wrote: post #137
wheels wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're expensive, but keep in mind that almost by the nature of the product, the customer base is going to be mostly 20-something urban professionals -- i.e. folks that make $1000 in two working days and are less likely to have a family cutting into their gadget fund.

As a late 40s father of two who has never ridden a skateboard, I started researching how hard it would be to learn and whether I should get a conventional longboard skateboard to learn on while I wait. I think the website could use some FAQs targeted at non-skateboarders. This is a VERY compelling product, the price point is just fine. But I do want to know if I could, practically, learn to ride it from scratch in a…

This might be inspirational for you:

http://shelterpub.com/_lloyd/skateboard.html

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#142

Post by DaniFong »

pg wrote: post #41

This is one of those things that's like Google in the sense that it seems to be just an improvement on existing technology, but in fact is enough of an improvement that it's qualitatively different. In all the startups we've funded I don't think I've seen one whose product was so enthusiastically embraced by YC partners. Three bought one of these boards. One says it "changed his life."

It looks pretty awesome.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#143

Post by orangethirty »

My only concern is the belt driven drivetrain. I used to race R/C cars who used the same time of layout (belts and plastic/aluminum gears), and the belts did not last that long. Given that this board would be pushing a fair amount of weight around, I don't see how it would last over a reasonable time frame. Though I'm just speculating. If anyone can chime in with more data, I'd love to know about it. Maybe the belts are kevlar reinforced? I know there are suppliers making those and they are readily available.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#144

Post by retrogradeorbit »

thomas-st wrote: post #8

Seems like it's illegal to use in California: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21968.htm

Illegal in Australia, too. In my state, over 1/4 HP classifies as a vehicle and must comply with vehicle codes. Which includes the need for brakes, tail lights, indicators, etc.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#145

Post by dchichkov »

nikatwork wrote: post #132
arohner wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> "Where is my bike and is it OK?" How does the skateboard avoid this? Where do you park it when you go to a restaurant or something?

Dude. It's a skateboard. You don't park it, you just carry it under your arm. Pretend it's an oversize umbrella or something :)

Have you actually tried carrying a motorized longboard? I did. They ARE bulky. That's what actually stopping me from riding a board to do my groceries. And I wouldn't even consider riding it to the office.

But, who knows, maybe these guys will be able to make a board that is not ridiculously bulky. [Make a lighter 10 lbs version, with 5 miles range, and I'm yours. Even for 1k.]

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#146

Post by aaroniba »

arohner wrote: post #120
aaroniba wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I said that. I realized my world was divided into: places I could walk to, places I could bike to, and places I could drive to. Where I live (downtown Palo Alto), driving is a hassle because of traffic and parking. Driving is annoying, boring, frustrating, life-wasting... basically I hate driving and use it only as a last resort. Walking is great, but it's slow. It's really time-consuming to walk anywhere beyond a fe…

> "Where is my bike and is it OK?" How does the skateboard avoid this? Where do you park it when you go to a restaurant or something?

I bring it in wherever I go. Haven't had a problem yet.

While grocery shopping, I put it underneath the shopping cart.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#147

Post by aaroniba »

cuu508 wrote: post #125
aaroniba wrote: post #108

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I said that. I realized my world was divided into: places I could walk to, places I could bike to, and places I could drive to. Where I live (downtown Palo Alto), driving is a hassle because of traffic and parking. Driving is annoying, boring, frustrating, life-wasting... basically I hate driving and use it only as a last resort. Walking is great, but it's slow. It's really time-consuming to walk anywhere beyond a fe…

> Faster than walking, biking, or driving. Is it really faster than biking? How? I imagine braking on this thing is not as good as on bike--harder to control stability, also smaller surface contact area. If you cannot stop fast, you cannot afford to go fast... On a bike I can usually blend into city traffic, draft large vehicles, weave through traffic jams, or hop on to sidewalk. Doing the same with longboard would r…

Yes, it's really faster than biking. I average 12mph on the boosted board. I know because I use a GPS app on my iphone to monitor my rides. This is unfortunately necessary because my prototype board does not have a battery gauge, so I need some idea of how much battery I have left.

I also weave through traffic. I don't know how to evaluate whether it's more or less safe than doing the same thing on a bike or motorcycle, but it doesn't feel any less safe.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#148

Post by calebmpeterson »

Tloewald wrote: post #137
wheels wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're expensive, but keep in mind that almost by the nature of the product, the customer base is going to be mostly 20-something urban professionals -- i.e. folks that make $1000 in two working days and are less likely to have a family cutting into their gadget fund.

As a late 40s father of two who has never ridden a skateboard, I started researching how hard it would be to learn and whether I should get a conventional longboard skateboard to learn on while I wait. I think the website could use some FAQs targeted at non-skateboarders. This is a VERY compelling product, the price point is just fine. But I do want to know if I could, practically, learn to ride it from scratch in a…

I'm a bit younger and the father of two little boys; I had a very similar reaction. "Cool, I wonder how I can talk my sons into long boarding in the parks nearby when they get a little older."

And yes, as someone who lives less than five miles from work, it is a VERY compelling product. The only problem is traffic. In normal suburban traffic a long board + a helmet would make a motorcycle look downright benign in the safety department.

Re: The World's Lightest Electric Vehicle

#149

Post by adrianhoward »

pg wrote: post #41

This is one of those things that's like Google in the sense that it seems to be just an improvement on existing technology, but in fact is enough of an improvement that it's qualitatively different. In all the startups we've funded I don't think I've seen one whose product was so enthusiastically embraced by YC partners. Three bought one of these boards. One says it "changed his life."

This is a dumb question - but they be illegal to ride powered on public roads/sidewalks in the US?

They'd certainly be illegal in the UK... which somewhat reduces the possibility of fun things.

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