Some Gizmag readers may remember the Monolith. It’s an electric skateboard with in-wheel hub motors, that has a spritely top speed of 39 km/h (24 mph). Well, Slovenian startup NGV (Next Generation Vehicle) has built a similar board of its own. It’s called the Next Board, and its creators are aiming for a we’ll-believe-it-when-we-see-it top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).
The current Next Board prototype has modified outrunner brushless DC electric motors in each of its wheels. These are powered by a 6-cell lithium-polymer 22.2-volt 8,000-mAh battery pack located under the deck, which is made from nine layers of maple veneer. A handheld remote is used to control the speed.
Charging the battery takes 1.5 hours, and the board has an approximate range of 10 to 15 km (6 to 9 miles) – if you aren’t going too fast.
On which topic, NGV’s Tina Mahovlič tells us that the prototype has already been taken up to 65 km/h (40 mph) on flat ground. The team now has enough components to build seven more boards, so the top end could yet reach the 100-mark as development continues.
Mahovlič says that a Kickstarter campaign may begin sometime this autumn (Northern Hemisphere), although pricing and commercial availability estimates aren’t yet available. NGV also doesn’t have a website yet, although you can check out its Facebook page.
