If you’re a longboarder, you know Loaded. They’re one of the more popular longboard brands. They also make the infamous Orangatang wheels, and their bushings are great additions to your favorite trucks as well. I’ve actually got three sets of Orangatang wheels, despite the fact that I don’t (as of this writing) own any Loaded boards. Their wheels are well known for being purpose-driven, and often including a bouncy urethane that’s fun and forgiving.
Unlimited wasn’t a company I knew of before this, but they’re better known among eboarders, and have sold similar kits before. Electric skateboards are growing in popularity, especially in cities. They can keep up with car traffic, are faster than bikes, safer than electric scooters, are portable, better for the environment, and just cooler than any other form of transportation in the city. With the exception, of course, of actual longboarding, which is greener, cooler, more portable, and almost as fast. I… I might be biased, but eboards are still very cool.
Unlimited has teamed up with Loaded to make an eboard kit that allows people to bring their own board (or buy a pre-made deck using Loaded’s decks, trucks, wheels, and bushings). This allows longboarders to keep their longboard, quickly convert it to and from an eboard, and still define their truck setup and geometry. Have they finally cracked the eskateboard conundrum: appealing to existing skateboarders and beginners?
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Electric Skateboarding
I prefer to be people powered. It’s green, my boards are lightweight, and I love getting the exercise. However, I understand the appeal of an eboard. They can shorten your commute time, are faster through traffic than cars, buses, or subways, and, unlike typical longboards, don’t require you to push, learn to slide for braking, or use footwear-damaging foot braking. It’s a great way to go green and improve your commute dramatically. Plus, you look cool as hell doing it. It’s cool, like owing a motorcycle, without the difficulty of getting a motorcycle license and finding a place to park the damn thing.
A friend and former coworker of mine, a street skater, actually bought a large One Wheel for commuting, and he loves it. That seemed like the best compromise for skaters for me, due to its ability to conquer curbs and rough terrain. But, for longboarders looking to dip their toes into the electric water (oh, that’s a metaphor I shouldn’t have mixed), there’s now Unlimited+Loaded kits. This might be the boost eboards need to grow exponentially: more support from longboard commuters and other skaters.
Unlimited x Loaded’s Setup
So, unlike the popular Boosted Boards, these kits can attach to your standard longboards. Just add their hardware to your rear truck mounting, hook up the wheels to the batteries, and you’re ready to go. Then you can customize your ride with an app, and use a hand remote to control your speed, just as you would with any other eboard. However, now you’re using a board you’re familiar with, with trucks you’ve chosen, and retaining your boards flexibility.
The Wheels
Depending on your kit, there’s either just one powered wheel (common with electric skateboards), or two. The motors are inside the wheel, so they won’t add much bulk. The wheels are based on Orangatang’s Caguama wheels. These are grippy, fast wheels, and are a whopping 85mm in diameter, great for bumps and uneven surfaces. I have a set on my Pantheon Ember and I tackle cracked, pothole-ridden streets and even small curbs like they’re not even there. They’re excellent wheels for commuting. The motor driven wheel or wheels are made to work with these excellent wheels.
The Motors
Motors for these are hub driven. They’re inside the wheels. This means you don’t have to worry about custom trucks, bands, or external gearing. All of the power is inside of the wheel. They also have regenerative braking, which means slowing down charges your batteries.
Depending on the kit, you will have a max speed of 23-27mph. Acceleration will also depend on the kit and the number of motored wheels you have, and motors won’t kick in until you’re already moving a little. This will prevent new skaters from falling over the first time they hit the gas. You can also change the mode through Unlimited’s app, so you can limit your board’s acceleration and speed until you’re ready for it.
The Kits
There are three battery/motor kits to choose from. First, the Solo. It’s $769, features one battery, and one motor. Max speed is 23mph (37kph), has a 7 mile range, and can tackle a 9º incline. It’s the perfect commuter kit for most city commuters. Then there’s the Cruiser, which is more geared for someone who may not be able to charge it between rides or who has a longer commute. It’s the same single motor as the Solo but double batteries, giving it a 13 mile range. Finally, there’s the race setup. This features two motors and two batteries, a 13 mile range, enough torque for a 20º incline, more rapid acceleration, and a 27mph (43.5kph) top speed.
On top of that, you can also get each of these kits on a board from Loaded. There’s the Omakase, a cruiser board with risers, built for this setup, the more traditional Icarus, with drop through mounting, and the Tesseract, a large, stable board with kick tail.
Who’s This For?
I have a downhill board I don’t ride enough that would be fun to convert to an occasional eboard. I skate mostly for freeriding and commuting (currently only commuting while I heal). However, it could be kind of cool to use an eboard to tackle the larger inclines that force me on to the train for parts of my commute. As a skater who prides herself on being 100% people-powered and green as can be, this could convince me to try the electric side of skating.
However, the fact that this is upgradeable and modular, and also allows people to switch boards and trucks, it’s the perfect entry point for new skaters. Maybe you’ve thought about skating before. Maybe you thought it would make your commute more fun, or cheaper, or faster, or greener. This might be the best way to get into eskating. Help the environment and enjoy your commute! Just… uh… wear protective gear. A full face helmet, wrist guards, pads, maybe even a leather jacket. Take it from the girl taking it easy right now from hard fall, protect yourself so you can keep skating.
That being said, the risk is worth it. Go green, go skate!
