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Video review: Evolve electric skateboard

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Gizmag's Noel McKeegan hits the streets on the Evolve electric skateboard
Gizmag's Noel McKeegan hits the streets on the Evolve electric skateboard
The Evolve Pintail electric skateboard
The Evolve electric skateboard's 200 W brushless motor
The Evolve electric skateboard Gates belt
The Evolve electric skateboard's battery pack and motor
The Evolve electric skateboard's custom dual trucks
The Evolve electric skateboard's custom dual trucks
The Evolve electric skateboard's electric motor
The Evolve electric skateboard comes with charger, remote and instructions
The Evolve electric skateboard's instruction booklet, charger and remote
The Evolve electric skateboard's Bluetooth remote
The Evolve electric skateboard's electric motor and dual trucks
The Evolve electric skateboard's rear wheels
The Evolve electric skateboard doesn't require any additional equipment
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While skateboarding is most popular with teenage males, improvements in compact electric motors and batteries has seen the emergence of electric skateboards that appeal to a much wider demographic, including those of us that are literally a wider demographic than we were in our teenage years. Battling it out with the likes of the Fiik, the ZBoard and Boosted Boards on the streets is Evolve Skateboards. Gizmag recently got to jump on a deck from the Australian company.

We tried the Evolve Electric Pintail, which is Evolve's entry-level board that features a conventional longboard design. It weighs 8.9 kg (19.6 lb), measures 105 cm (41.5 in) long and has a 66 cm (26 in) wheelbase. Evolve also offers a Snubnose deck that weighs 8 kg (17.6 lb), measures 90 cm (35.5 in) long, with a wheelbase of 61 cm (24 in). The Snubnose can accommodate larger wheels and make sharper turns, while the Pintail is intended as a cruiser.

The Evolve Pintail electric skateboard

Both boards feature a 6-ply bamboo vertically laminated deck with a 200 W, 5,500 rpm three-phase custom brushless motor driving the wheels – or rather the wheel, as just one of the rear wheels is used to transfer the power to the ground. The motor is powered by a 36-volt, 7 Ah lithium polymer battery that Evolve claims provides up to two hours of riding time, takes up to four hours to recharge, and should be good for around 1,000 recharge cycles.

Getting ready to roll

Turning on the board is as simple as pressing a button on the underside of the board and turning on the pistol-grip controller. One of our only criticisms about the board is the remote. While it's comfortable to hold and responsive, it fails the no-manual test because there's no labels indicating what the two buttons on the rear of the remote and the three lights on the side are for. For this, you'll have to consult the included manual, which provides straightforward instructions.

The Evolve electric skateboard's Bluetooth remote

The remote pairs automatically with the board via Bluetooth with a press of the power button, which is also used to switch between slow and fast speed settings. While switching between slow and fast speed can be done on the move, it's not something you'll likely be doing (and Evolve advises against it) as the full speed range of each setting is available via altering the amount you pull on the trigger.

The low speed is intended for beginners getting to grips with the board before graduating to the high speed setting rather than as a gear that must be progressed through before shifting into fast. A second button is used change into reverse, which can only be done when stationary. The indicator lights on the side of the remote tell you which gear you're in.

Getting up to speed – and learning to stop

One you've familiarized yourself with the remote it's simply a case of jumping on the board and pulling the trigger. As with most electric vehicles, full torque is available straight away, so you'll want to ease the trigger rather than ramming it down when setting off lest the board take off and leave you behind.

The Evolve electric skateboard doesn't require any additional equipment

I should mention that it's been a while between drinks for those of us putting the Evolve board through its paces. That said, it was only a matter of minutes before we were cruising along at a decent clip. In fact, it was so easy to focus on getting moving that it's easy to forget you'll have to stop at some point until presented with the need to do so – a rapidly approaching wall or intersection, for example.

The first time you need to pull up in a hurry, it's almost impossible to resist slamming on the brakes, which is accomplished by pushing the remote's trigger forward. While the ABS brakes won't bring the board to a screeching halt, they will pull you up quick enough to throw you off the front of the board. This will likely be the result on your first few rides until you learn to slowly apply the brakes while shifting your weight to the back of the board.

Our field testing showed it took around 17 m (55 ft) to go from top speed to full stop once the brakes were applied. But this was without putting a foot on the ground to assist the braking process, which allows you to pull up much sooner. After just a brief time on the board, even novice electric skateboarders like the Gizmag team were able to combine the brakes with putting a foot down to come to a complete stop in well under 10 m (32 ft) after moving at full speed.

It should also be noted that even at top speed, it's possible to jump off the board and run without coming to grief, but we wouldn't guarantee an injury-free dismount every time. And the board will usually continue rolling down the street if you jump off at full speed, which is obviously not something you'd want heading into an intersection.

Carving it up

Being a longboard, turning is accomplished by shifting your weight to either side rather than tic tacing, which is pretty much impossible due to the weight of the board anyway. Evolve has created its own custom trucks that have a double joints and adjustable bushings that allow riders to fine tune their ride and are designed to allow the board to carve like a surfboard or snow board.

The Evolve electric skateboard's custom dual trucks

Despite this, we found ourselves riding in a pretty straight line for the most part, only resorting to carving to tackle steeper hills. While the board will get you up some decent slopes in a straight line, performance and battery life will take a pretty serious hit. If you do run out of juice, it is possible to ride it like an unpowered longboard and propel it with good ol' leg power. But you will notice some extra resistance not found on a regular skateboard.

Evolve's claims of around two hours of battery life on the flat were consistent with our experience, but that was going nonstop at top speed. Real world use will give much greater range taking into account stops and starts and traveling up and down hills. Evolve's claims of a 36 km/h (22 mph) top speed was also consistent with our time on the board, which might not sound that quick, but sure feels it. While such speeds are easily achievable on a bike, reaching them on a skateboard results in a little more adrenalin due to a combination of factors, including being closer to the ground and the difference in stopping distance of both vehicles.

The ride itself was fairly smooth, even on rougher asphalt. This is presumably thanks in large part to the flexibility of the bamboo deck, which has a fair degree of flex. But for those showing signs of middle age spread, Evolve recommends a load of up to 100 kg (220 lb) lest the flex becomes a fracture.

Target market

Evolve's founder Jeff Anning told us that most buyers of its boards are males in the 25 to 55 age bracket who don't necessarily have a skateboarding background, but are purchasing the board for recreational purposed and/or as an alternative form of transport.

We can certainly understand the attraction of the electric skateboard for either application. As a form of recreation it's great fun and doesn't require any additional equipment. Although a helmet, gloves and knee-pads might be a good idea depending on how far you like to push things.

And as a last mile transport option it's hard to fault. It's small and light enough to be easily carried on a train or bus, can be hidden in a corner at work while it recharges, gets you from A to B with little physical effort and is a lot of fun. In fact, it's so much fun to ride, you might consider it more of a last-10-mile transport option as you'll probably be tempted to get off a few stops early to maximize your time on the board.

Where can I get one?

Although Anning started Evolve in the Gold Coast, Australia, and delivered its first boards to customers in mid-2012, the company now has distributors in Asia, North America and Europe, each of which assembles and tests their own boards in their respective countries. The Pintail retails for US$1,199 in the US, although prices vary slightly between distributors.

To sum up, the Evolve electric skateboard was the most fun we've had on four wheels in a long time and we can recommend it to anyone looking for a fun way to spend a few hours on the weekend or someone looking for a convenient last-mile transport option during the week.

Anyway, it's better to show than to tell, so check out our video review of the Evolve Pintail electric skateboard below.

Product page: Evolve Skateboards

View gallery - 14 images
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8 comments
Facebook User
Good, solid review! Evolve may well be best e-board out there today. Thanks Gizmag... get ScrapedUp!
The Skud
Yet another use for electric motors! Sounds a bit "death wish" to me though, I like the statement that dismounts are a bit risky! If I had to choose a different transport form than my car, I think the recent post on a 'chariot' shaped electric vehicle might get my vote. You still stand up in the breeze, but the stability factor is way greater!
openmind523
About the video test: When the red light on the remote comes on early when racing , it doesn't mean the battery is empty, it means, you have still 50% battery life left. So you have over 20km when racing at top speed. 30km range at middle speed, and over 35km when riding really efficient. That's huge for an electric skateboard. Tops all others by 2 or 3 times. And not to mention it is very quite and the first electric board, that is compatible to a lot of other professional longboard wheels and sizes. You can also choose softer wheels for best grip in deep carves or do some slides with harder wheels.
Michael Crumpton
Finally an electric vehicle that has a somewhat realistic price! Great review too. I would probably have been more cautious and worn a helmet until I was very comfortable with riding it.
Evolve Rider
A good honest review. Although the comments about changing gears as you ride is completely wrong. There are 2 speed settings - slow and fast. When you ride this board you do not need to be switching between the 2 speeds. As a novice its best to ride in slow speed, once you understand the simple controls and feeling then its best to ride in fast speed mode as you have full control over your speed and can go still go slowly if you want.
Also, the board has been designed to carve, not just ride in straight lines at full speed, riding like this kind of misses the point of the evolve design. And Openmind523 is 100% right about the range.
Gizmag has done a good job with the review but it really should of been ridden by someone who knows how to ride or a snowboarder or surfer.
Glyn Laybourn
To start with I'd better say that I own one of these now, so I may be biased. Saying that Gizmag seem to have totally forgot that the whole point of this machine, which is to have fun and practice your carving technique. Sure it can go fast, but that's not the point, and you'd be way better off with a stiffer truck if that's all you wanted to do. Again, this is designed to reproduce that floating feeling of carving along on a snowboard, which is where the super supple custom trucks come in. The brakes are ok, they slow you enough so that you can jump off, their more a safety feature than intended for constant use. Think of the Evolve board as more of a longboard that you don't have to push, relax, enjoy the ride, practice your carving.... and you'll find it the greatest form of transportation around!
Kirby
Decent review except for 1 key feature that was left out, probably because the reviewers were non-skaters. Does the board "glide"? Most e-boards come to a stop when the trigger is released due to belt friction. This is how they brake. Since this model used ABS braking, does the belt free-spin or is it continually engaged to the motor? If allowed to free-spin, then the board can "glide" downhill under gravity. That means the motor is disengaged allowing the rider to cruise without that feeling of always controlling speed with the motor trigger. This is a key feature in cruising because longboarders seek that free-glide feeling.
Njoy2day
Before reading my review know this about me. I am always critical of products and always find at least something I would like to be better. This board is perfection. Evolve nailed it. It is perfect in every aspect.
I longboard daily and love the relaxing experience of flying down hills, making tons of turns, pretending I'm snowboarding. My only complaint was my legs get insanely tired, and I hate chugging up hills sweating. So i looked for a solution and evolve provided the answer.
I just got my evolve pintail with the green wheels and this thing is absolutely the best purchase I have ever made. If you feel like the price is too high and it's not worth it you couldn't be more wrong.
I got on the board the first time and cranked it full speed and it feels exactly the way you expect it too but i was surprised by how much power the engine actually has. I am comfortable going 25-35 mph down hill which is really fast on a long board. I know some guys go 50+ but I'm not that insane/confident.
Anyway the speed kicked in and down an even mild hill your going over 30 mph, it's best to have at least some throttle when your carving, but if you cut throttle all the way it glides with very little resistance.
The best thing about this board is you can bomb and tuck, and then lighten up on throttle and surf around the road with these amazing trucks. It's best to experiment with different tightness on the trucks and find your comfort zone. The board remains rigid enough for high speed but once you try to lean it can turn on the dime.
I hear a lot of people ripping on the breaks and how dangerous it is if you can't stop. Don't buy the board then, because your clearly un-coordinated and shouldn't be riding a skateboard to begin with. The breaks don't stop the board they just cut the speed fast enough to let you regain control. I pump them once or twice and I go from 25 mph to less than 10 in no time.
I was also concerned with the battery running low but believe me your legs will get tired before the battery does. The red light comes on to let you know you have half battery so your never left out there with no juice.
Again this board is for experienced riders who know how to control a board at higher speeds. If you can't ride regular hills and make smooth turns then hold off on this board.
After riding for over an hour at full speed and going roughly 10-15 miles in distance I come back home to charge it up. It takes about 3 hours and your right back on the road. Evolve states to always have the board fully charged when not in use for battery health.
I had my eye on this company and board for over 2 years. $1,200 is stupid money for anything but I'd pay $2,400 for it now because it is that much fun. Getting home from work and putting on some head phones and flying around without getting fatigued from kicking is insane fun. Don't hesitate to buy. My only regret is not getting in sooner.
I ordered from Bruce the USA supplier and his customer service was superb handling all my questions and responded to all e-mails promptly. Delivery was super fast and free.
Evolve or die, embrace technology.