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The five best electric skateboards to give your holiday season some spark

The five best electric skateboards to give your holiday season some spark
The second generation of Boosted Boards retain the bamboo deck and signature orange street wheels of the original
The second generation of Boosted Boards retain the bamboo deck and signature orange street wheels of the original
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The Marbel board inconspicuously packs the electrical components into the carbon fiber deck
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The Marbel board inconspicuously packs the electrical components into the carbon fiber deck 
The Marbel board has a zippy 25 mph (40 km/h) top speed
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The Marbel board has a zippy 25 mph (40 km/h) top speed
The Marbel board has a more than adequate 16-mile range (25 km)
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The Marbel board has a more than adequate 16-mile range (25 km)
The Marbel board weighs just 10 lb (4.5 kg)
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The Marbel board weighs just 10 lb (4.5 kg)
The Marbel is the lightest e-board currently available
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The Marbel is the lightest e-board currently available
The Evolve Carbon GT has swappable all-terrain wheels for off-road adventuring
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The Evolve Carbon GT has swappable all-terrain wheels for off-road adventuring
The Evolve Carbon GT can hit speeds of 43 km/h
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The Evolve Carbon GT can hit speeds of 43 km/h
We have ridden a number of products from Australian company Evolve, and this year's Carbon GT is its best work yet
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We have ridden a number of products from Australian company Evolve, and this year's Carbon GT is its best work yet
The Evolve Carbon GT packs a huge punch
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The Evolve Carbon GT packs a huge punch
The Evolve Carbon GT is controlled with an intuitive Bluetooth controller
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The Evolve Carbon GT is controlled with an intuitive Bluetooth controller
The new Boosted Boards models encase the electronics for water-resistance
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The new Boosted Boards models encase the electronics for water-resistance
The second generation of Boosted Boards retain the bamboo deck and signature orange street wheels of the original
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The second generation of Boosted Boards retain the bamboo deck and signature orange street wheels of the original
The updated Boosted Boards ship with a standard 99 Wh battery and 7 mi (11.2 km) range, but this can be swapped out for a 199 Wh battery for 12 to 14-mile range (19 to 22 km)
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The updated Boosted Boards ship with a standard 99 Wh battery and 7 mi (11.2 km) range, but this can be swapped out for a 199 Wh battery for 12 to 14-mile range (19 to 22 km)
The Boosted Board 2s begin at $999
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The Boosted Board 2s begin at $999
The M1 has a top speed of 24 mph (39 km/h).
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The M1 has a top speed of 24 mph (39 km/h). 
Each 90-minute charge of the M1 should be good for 10 mi (16 km) of riding
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Each 90-minute charge of the M1 should be good for 10 mi (16 km) of riding
Better portability aside, the hub motor approach means that the motors are less likely to become caught up on obstacles and damaged
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Better portability aside, the hub motor approach means that the motors are less likely to become caught up on obstacles and damaged
The M1 weighs 14 lb (6.35 kg)
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The M1 weighs 14 lb (6.35 kg)
The E-Go weighs 14 lb (6.3 kg)
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The E-Go weighs 14 lb (6.3 kg) 
The E-Go has a top speed of just 20/kmh (12 mph) which may be more than enough clicks for some
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The E-Go has a top speed of just 20/kmh (12 mph) which may be more than enough clicks for some
The E-Go has a generous 18-mile (30-km) range
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The E-Go has a generous 18-mile (30-km) range
The E-Go from aircraft-maker Yuneec offers a more affordable way to get in on the electric skateboard action
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The E-Go from aircraft-maker Yuneec offers a more affordable way to get in on the electric skateboard action
View gallery - 22 images

Electric skateboards occupy a funny old space in the world of consumer goods. Are they just adult toys half-heartedly disguised as clean and efficient commuters, or an unapologetic, high-voltage way of souping up an already exhilarating action sport? Whatever your motive for charging up before checking out, ever-maturing technology means you can now hit the streets on super-fun electric skateboards that are slimmer, slighter and smoother than ever before. Here we scour the industry's current offerings, and consult our own attempts at riding the things, to compile a selection of the best electric skateboards for the upcoming holiday season.

Marbel board

The Marbel board inconspicuously packs the electrical components into the carbon fiber deck
The Marbel board inconspicuously packs the electrical components into the carbon fiber deck 

A seemingly endless stream of crowdfunding videos paint life with an electric skateboard as effortlessly gliding from place-to-place, cruising through pedestrian traffic with a latte in hand. But the reality is, you're going to spend a good deal of time trying to lug the thing around, whether it's up the office stairs, on the bus, through the supermarket or across the campus lawn.

Longboards are long and awkward by nature, and when you throw heavy batteries and motors into the mix things get quite cumbersome indeed. At just 10 lb (4.5 kg), the Marbel board inconspicuously packs the electrical components into the carbon fiber deck and is the lightest e-board currently available (though some lighter competitors are in the pipeline). It also has a zippy 25 mph (40 km/h) top speed and healthy 16-mile range (25 km).

If you do go down this road we'd recommend bringing a bit of patience with you. The Marbel board arrived on the crowdfunding scene way back in May 2014 and it is fair to say the journey to production has been a little bumpy. Readers have alerted us to the slow progress, shipping delays for backers and refund requests. Nonetheless, the company claims its Marbel board is now in full production and shipping out to US customers within a 3-4 week timeframe, though if you're an international customer you are likely in for a longer wait.

The Marbel board is priced at US$1,399

Evolve Carbon GT

The Evolve Carbon GT packs a huge punch
The Evolve Carbon GT packs a huge punch

We have ridden a number of products from Australian company Evolve, and this year's Carbon GT is definitely its best work yet. The polished award-winning e-board handles beautifully, has swappable all-terrain wheels for off-road adventuring, and packs a huge punch courtesy of twin brushless motors pumping 3 kW through the rear wheels.

It can hit speeds of 43 km/h (27 mph), will carry you 30 km (18 mi) on each charge and while not the lightest e-board, at 7.9 kg (17.4 lb) it is certainly not the heaviest either. The battery is hidden away inside the deck so it can be comfortably tucked under your arm when on foot and it is controlled by way of an ergonomic, intuitive Bluetooth controller.

The Evolve Carbon GT is priced at $2,660.

Boosted Board 2

The new Boosted Boards models encase the electronics for water-resistance
The new Boosted Boards models encase the electronics for water-resistance

The world of electric skateboards has seen many startups come and go, through the nurturing but ultimately unforgiving nature of crowdfunding campaigns. When one raises half a million dollars, delivers the goods and then matures into a successful business, you know the company runs a tight ship built on rock-solid products.

The popular and tastefully designed Boosted Boards of 2012 were the lightest of their time, and while they have since been undercut in the weight stakes the company is keeping its product lineup fresh through some other innovations.

The second generation of Boosted Boards retain the bamboo deck and signature orange street wheels of the originals, but improve on the modest range of 6 mi (9.65 km). They ship with a standard 99-Wh battery and 7 mi (11.2 km) range, but this can be swapped out for a 199-Wh battery for 12 to 14-mile range (19 to 22 km). Oh, and the new model encases the electronics for water resistance.

The Boosted Board 2s begin at $999 and the bulkier battery will set you back an extra $100. More powerful variations are available at a higher price points.

The M1 (formerly known as Monolith)

Each 90-minute charge of the M1 should be good for 10 mi (16 km) of riding
Each 90-minute charge of the M1 should be good for 10 mi (16 km) of riding

Sealing motors away inside the deck or behind the rear wheels are a couple of ways to make an electric longboard a better travel companion, and hiding them inside the wheels is another. The M1 is billed as the world's first electric skateboard to feature hub motors, which are set in the two rear wheels to thrust riders down the road at up to 24 mph (39 km/h).

Better portability aside, the approach means that the motors are less likely to become caught up on obstacles and damaged, and the creators claim they are water-resistant and lighter than a conventional motor. Each 90-minute charge of the M1 should be good for 10 mi (16 km) of riding and the board weighs 14 lb (6.35 kg).

Inboard, the company behind the M1, is currently taking orders for the skateboard for a cost of $1,399, but if you're looking to roll out of your driveway on Christmas morning it's perhaps not the best bet. It says it has a bit of a backlog and orders placed now will be shipped out in January, so there might still be time for some tail-slidin' through the tail end of your break.

Yuneec E-Go

The E-Go has a generous 18-mile (30-km) range
The E-Go has a generous 18-mile (30-km) range

You might have noticed a bit of a theme here. Electric skateboards tend to be kind of expensive, particularly for a someone just looking to test the waters. The E-Go from aircraft-maker Yuneec offers a much more affordable way to get in on the action.

The board doesn't topple its competitors on any of the key specifications, but could be the perfect cruiser for a newcomer on a tighter budgets. Its top speed is just 20/kmh (12 mph) which may be more than enough clicks for some, and it has a generous 18-mile (30-km) range stuffed into nicely crafted 14 lb (6.3 kg) package.

The Yuneec E-Go is priced at $699.

View gallery - 22 images
2 comments
2 comments
flybywire99
Why are these devices even manufactured and why would any skateboarder want to use one? One of the advantages and joys of skateboarding is propelling yourself with your muscles and getting a good workout while enjoying the outdoors. Why don't all the able bodied humans just get electric seated scooters and become giant blobs of uselessness.
guzmanchinky
I rode the M1 and Boosted side by side at the B8ta store in Palo Alto. The M1 is worlds better in carving and smoothness, but the Boosted is more powerful. Also the M1 has quick swappable batteries (99 is the max size allowed on an airliner) and the Boosted has "replaceable" batteries that take about 5 minutes with a tool. I ordered the M1 for the in wheel motors and the swappable batteries. To me a board shouldn't look like an e-board (particularly since they are still illegal in lots of places) and it's nice that I can carry a spare battery in a backpack (they are really light) for the ride home... The evolve looks awesome too, though.